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THE 


BY  G.  C.  ANDREWS. 


VINPiriATOR    JOB  I'lUNT. 
1001. 


1^  /■^'' 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 

From  the  Library  of 
Benjamin  Breckinridge  Warfield 


Division...L^.:^..i/D  O    i 
Section. .t...r\..rJ  \^ 


A,  '^> 


LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


iiii 


THE 


STORY   OF   CREATION. 


By  GIBSON  C.  ANDREWS. 
Written  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord   iqoo. 


\)  Tm;   IvKADKn  : 
W'lu'ii   yon   iv;i(i   n   liood  ]>ook,  read  in  sym- 
pathy   witli    the    aiilJiiH".       If    you    read    :i 
bad    one,   ivnd    with    a    critical    judiitnent. 

'I'm;   AiTiioK 


Cop\Ti.i^ht  b\-  tile  Author. 


vi;i\rh;ii  by    r.  ii.  \v<»i;i).  a'I'  ■iiik  viNDicAToi; 
.ion  oi  I  K'l;,  (;uM;i;N\ii.i.i;,  oa. 


Entered  aeoordino-  to   Act  of  Congress   in  the  year  1900,  bv  Gih- 
wa^nington.     All  rights  reserved. 


.■■^  -^i^  •'■«»>.  .■^>>  ••^<  •■'^  •'^  •>>.  -^"v^k.  ••?»,■  -T^ 


^1 


^|H 


.f? 


^^:^j0^'.^^:^.^'\^:^^- 


DEDICATION. 

A  lover  of  all,  the  aiilhor  dedicates  this  book,  in  all  sin- 
cerity, and  most  earnestly,  to  the  whole  human  race;  and 
that  not-only  now,  but  for  all  time  to  come,  iii  all  its  gen- 
erations, till  the  last  set  of  sun.  Even  as  the  u-real 
subject  upon  which  it  is  written,  appeals  with  equal  inter- 
est to  every  one  of  them.  At  any  time  or  place,  whoever 
reads  this  book,  let  Iiim  know  that  tin-  author  loved  him 
and  prayed  for  him,  (to  the  L,n'eat  Author  of  us  all),  ere  I  his 
book  reaclie(l  hi  in. 


'i^ 


H 


TIIK  Al'IMlon. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 


OIIAPTKR  I. 

I^^N  the  lony  :iy'o,  in  the  l)e,ii;inniiiii'  of  hoary  time,  (fod,  by  tlie  power 
'^,  of  His  Almio-lity  word,  created  the  heavenly  bodies  and  the  earth. 
(Jren.  1 :2.  In  the  second  chapter  of  Genesis  in  the  first  and  in  tlie 
fourtli  verses,  the  word  lieaven  is  in  the  plural  form.  I  think  it  must 
mean  the  heavenly  bodies..  Just  so  in  Psalms  r5H:(5:  "By  the  word 
of  the  Lord  were  tJie  heavens  made;  and  all  the  host  of  them  by  the 
breath  of  his  mouth."  T!ie  word  hosts  often  means  an  army ;  or  a 
multitude  of  beings.  Josh.  o:14,  15.  "The  worlds  were  framed  by 
the  word  of  God."'  Heb.  11  :B.  St  Peter  says,  "by  the  word  of  God 
the  heavens  were  of  old,  and  the  earth."     2:8-5. 

In  all  these  passages  the  writers  must  mean  the  heavenly  bodies 
and  the  earth.  And  they  say  they  were  created  by  .the  word  of  God. 
As  it  is  explained  in  the  thirty-third  Psalm:  9:  "He  spake  and  it 
was  done;  He  commanded  and  it  stood  fast." 

(ienesis,  first  chnptor  and  first  A'erse,  calls  this  the  beginning.  And 
I  think  St.  John  refers  to  this  in  the  first  chapter,  first  and  second 
verses  of  Jiis  Gospel. 

J  do  not  think  the  Lord  created  all  these  worlds  as  on  a  great  plat- 
form and  then  moved  them  out  on  their  respective  tracks ;  but 
rather,  I  believe.  He  created  each  one  in  the  part  of  space  it  was  to 
occupy  in  relation  to  the  rest  and  in  the  orbit  in  which  it  was  to  move. 
As  afterwards  He  created  those  creatures  that  were  peculiar  to  water 
in  the  water;  and  those  that  were  peculiar  to  land  on  the  land.  And 
in  each  were  all  the  elements,  laws  and  powers  peculiarly  thereto  be- 
longing,'except  as  yet  none  of  tliem  had  received  any  light. 

They  were  all  held  in  a  just  balance,  Is.  -12:12,  by  Almighty 
power.  Job  87:17,  and  at  the  moment  all  were  ready  to  move.  He, 
as  it  were,  touched  the  button,  and  the  motion  of  the  vast  machinery 
began,  and  continued  on,  and  on,  without  any  disappointment  to  the 
Great  Contriver. 

A  grand  scene  it  was !  It  made  the  angels  sing  and  shout  for  joy. 
Job  88:7  For  they  had  watched  every  step  with  deep  concern.  1 
Peter  1 :12  The  Son  of  God,  the  acting  Creator,  rejoiced,  too,  in  the 
happy  success  of  His  work.     Prov.  8:22-81. 

How  long  the  Great  Godhead  may  have  had  this  wonderful  scheme 
of  Creation — if  one  may  so  speak — in  contemplation,  or  the  work  it- 
self in  a  course  of  preparation,  we  are  not  informed.  But  I  think  it 
is  clear  that  the  Cre.itor  began  to  reckon  out  time  from  that 
grand  er;;. 

NVith  tlie  beginning  of  that  first  revolution  of  the  earth  on  her  axis, 
and  around  the  siin,  and  the  motion  of  the  other  bodies — the  sun  and 
ail  Ills  host — tlie  wlicels  of  time,  too,  began  to  move.  It  was  the 
beginning  of  li!n<' — the    beginning  of  days.     The  close  of   that    first 


-•  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

revolution  of  tlie  eart]i  on  her  OAvn  axis  registered   a  day— our   first 
t'~^F^?^'f  ''''  ?''■     ^^^^^"'^  «^^^'  heglnninl  we  cannot 
andis^iScf^nU^Bor^^'^"'^'"^^^^^^^^^   '^^^^'^"^"^   ^'   ^-^ 
About  2518  years,  if  not  more,  after  this,  God  said  in  the  presence 
and  in  the  hearing,  of  all  Israel,  at  Sinai :     "In  six  days  the  Lord  made 

ma^^,?  if  •  '^^"''^  T''  f'  '''f  '''  '''''''  ''■"     Heayen  here  me' ns  all 
material  things  not  embraced  in  the  earth. 

St.  Peter  tells  us  when  he  made  the  heayens  and  the  earth  tlie  earth 
was  standing  m  the  water  and  out  of  the  water.  There  was  then 
chS''  '^''''''^'  ^«^'  }:^^-  But  the  whole  of  it  was  in  a  state  of 
t^thn.iV  ,^J?rees  with  Gen.  1:2,  which  says:  "The  earth  was 
mon^nn nTfi  IJ  ™  "o^  round  nor  was  it  square.  No  speech  of 
man  could  define  its  shape. 

In  passing  from  Chaos  to  order  she  bellowsed,  steamed  and  fused, 
until  all  her  elements  tound  a  proper  equipoise.  The  cicatrices  of 
which  are  to  be  seen  in  all  the  earth  until  this  day.  And  by  analo-y 
we  may  suppose  a  similar  process  was  gone  through  in  all  tjie  heav- 
enly bodies  That  was  a  Great  day  of  God  Almigirty.  But  there  was 
2pS,er'ya2  '  '''  '  ^^''''"''  """  ^''''  ^'^ ''^^^^^^^-  Rev.  IG-l-l! 
.l.ffT''  ''^"  *^'^™ ';'  ^?^^  ^'""'^  received  their  permanent  shape;,  but  un- 

obf  .^ n'  ?"''''',  ""^  ^""^  T''^  ^^''  ^^'^^'^^'^  ^'^^^y  '''^'^  subjected  o  they  soon 
obtained  a  spherical  form.  As  he  says,  go  to  the  potter  and  iarn. 
Jar.  ISl-G.  I  have  often  seen  the  potter  put  upon  his  wheel  a  lump 
of  mort,ar  with  no  definite  shape,  and  under  his  guiding  Ltd  "id 
from  the  mot  on  of  the  wheel,  in  a  few  seconds  of  time  it  wo  d  1  e  ^ 
round  body-fashioning  it  as  he  chose.  So  it  would  be  but"  at  ra^ 
un  l^n'"'?  ^''-  "'?  '"^;''^'  ""^^  ''^^  ^'^^  ^•^-«^'  "^  ^^^^ir  then  plastic  stare 

"-^L  IHK  ;?"  1^'  ^T"^  "'  ^Y  ^'''''''  ""'"'^  '^''^^'  ^-"^^«"  ^e  gave  them 
\Mtii  all  Its  rapidity  to  soon  become  spheres 

bv  n^tf?"^^'  ^^'"/!^^^^"  ^'^^  ^^'^^'^  '^'^^  void.     Barren,  empty,  unoccupied 

ol  ?^S:  """"""'  ''''''  '"^'"^  ''"-''''^   '^"^<^  ^^   lifo-ani^nal 

rise  un  onToJI^'  1  ^u'  ^/'!?  '^'^^'  "/"  ^'^'^^^^'^^  ^'""'^  '""^'^^'^  ^h«  ^^'^^^^r  to 
H?,r,,';P,''''^  of  tne  bulk  of  the  earth-the  condensation  she  was  going 
through  would  naturally  produce  this  effect^so  that  tlie  water  sfood 
all  over  her  surface.     Gen.  1.2.     And  no  doubt  but  the  same  wa    eC- 

o  look  '  bJo  '^'  '^T'"'^'  ^^'^^"  "'^'^^^^^^  '^^^'^  «-  surface  ;fS^. 
107:23  20  ''''    '   "''''■     "'''  '^'  ^'  ""'^"^^^   ^^'^   ^^^^P-"     I-*^"!"^^ 

"And  darkness  was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep." 

wef  e^d^.^rk  '  '™^■!^^^^^'f  ^  ^'T^'-'f  over  with  darkness.     Even  tlie  waters 

n         1    ^"       ^  f.?''^^  "^'^"''^^   ^'^^^^'  ^'^^«os  of  all  the  elements  in  all 

hose  bodies  and  the  tremendous  explosions  that  would  follow  in  co 

ole'd^rk      V   '*'''''?i"'  T'r''^  '"'^'^'^  ^^'<^"l^t  cause  t^.:  waters 
special  act  of  Creation.     But  we  must  understand  it  after  the  man- 
ner of  men,  for  it  is  never  dark  to  the  Lord.     Ps    339  n-P> 
In  that  opportune  moment  the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon   the  face 


THE  STORY  OF  CRKATIOX.  3. 

of  the  waters.  This  is  (lie  fh-st  time  tlie  Spirit  took  any  part  in  tlie 
work.  And  we  nre  not  informed,  eitlier,  for  what  purpose  He  made 
tliis  mov(Miient  upon  tlie  surface  of  the  waters.  Bui  we  know  that 
none  of  His  movements  are  aimless.  I  think  it  is  ohvious  frpm  what 
follows,  that  it  was  to  prepare  the  waters  for  the  emission  of  lij^ht, 
and  wlien  He  had  brouo^ht  them  into  a  proper  state  the  Son  of  (iod. 
who  is  himself  "The  lio^ht  of  the  world,"  John  8.12,  said  in  a  sublime 
voice,  "as  never  man  spake,  John  7.-16,  "Let  there  be  light;  and 
there  waslij>iit."  A  resplendent  light  radiating- from  all  waters — witli- 
oiit  sun,  moon  or  stars — lighting  up  creatioii. 

I  believe  He  used  the  waters  as  a  means  of  light  until  the  fourtli 
day,  when  power  was  imparted  to  the  sun  for  this  purpose.  And  for 
tliis  reason  He  gave  to  it  a  brilliancy  surpassing  any  water  we  ever 
saw.  The  Creator,  so  I  think,  chose  this  as  His  temporary  arrange- 
ment for  light  to  the  material  universe  until  He  was  prepared  to 
bring  in  His  i)ermanent — or  rather  until  t-he  worlds  He  had  created 
>vere  prepared  for  His  permanent  plan — for  if  the  light  of  a  sun  had 
been  turned  upon  the  earth  then  and  people  had  been  living  on  it  they 
could  not  have  stood  it,  for  the  earth  had  as  yet  no  atmosphere  to 
temper  the  sun's  rays.  Nor  did  she  have  until  the  second  day.  This 
light  was  material.  Was  for  material  uses,  and  must  have  come  from 
some  material  source.  It  was  most  convenient,  no  doubt,  and  most 
suitable  to  make  the  water  luminous  for  thase  first  days.  Of  course 
it  would  equalize  the  warmth  as  well  as  the  light  througliout  all  crea- 
tion as  nothing  else  could  do.  And  it  was  all  of  the  same  tempera- 
lure  in  those  virgin  days. 

You  may  tliink  this  is  not  true,  but  if  He  had  made  any  tiling  else 
self  luminous,  or  the  source  of  light  to  the  rest  of  nature,  there 
v/ould  have  been  the  same  seeming  difficulty  in  separating  day  from 
night  until  the  sun  was  prepared  for  this  office  and  work.  In  some 
mysterious  way,  unrevealed  to  us,  without  a  sun,  he  separated  be- 
tween the  light  and  the  darkness  in  regular  .succession  until  the 
fourth  day,  Job  38.19-2-1;  Is.  45-7.  He  sent  darkness  upon  Egypt, 
Ex.  lU-22',  "and  made  it  dark,"  Ps.  105-28. 

Tliis  dark  spell  lasted  three  days  and  three  niglits  being  darker 
than  tliej^  would  have  been  without  it.  A  grievous  darkness  it  w^as. 
It  darkened  stars  and  moon  by  night  and  the  svm  by  day.  Yet  the 
Lord  so  controlled  it  that  it  did  not  extend  over  Goshen — where  the 
Israelites  dwelt.  He  did  that  in  the  presence  of  the  sun.  ^^lthout 
his  help  in  any  Avay.  No  shadow  of  the  earth — no  eclipse  anywhere. 
He  divided  that  light  in  Goshen  from  the  darkness  that  overshadowed 
the  rest  of  Egypt.  If  he  had  seen  tit  he  could  as  easily  have  sent  it 
over  all  the  earth,  and  without  the  sun  have  separated  between 
that  darkness  and  the  light  shining  elsewdiere.  For  he  raaketh  dark- 
ness, and  it  is  night;  and  he  maketh  light,  and  it  is  day.  So  with- 
out a  sun  for  those  first  days  he  separated  between  day  and  nights — 
everywhere  as  he  saw  fit. 

He  did  it  by  his  miraculous  power.  Every  act  of  creation  was  mi- 
raculous. Hence  he  could  do  it  in  an  instance  in  as  high  a  degree  of 
perfection  as  if  it  had  come  through  the  slow  process  of  the  sculptor 
or  the  painter.     Lie'.-:  \)y  lick — stroke  by  stroke — God   did    more  by  a 


4.  THE  STORY  OF  (^^EATTOX. 

single  word — in  a  moment  of  time — than  all  men  eould  evei*  do. 

Creation  viewed  from  any  stand  point  is  a  stiipendoi;s  work.  No 
language  has  epithet.s  sufficient  to  express  its  greatness.  The  more 
we  consider  it  the  more  do  we  feel  we  are  lost  in  immensity,  or  like 
Josepli  Addison  on  tlie  greatness  of  divine  Tnerey : 

■'^\']len  all  thy  mercies,  O  my  (Jod, 

jMy  rising  soul  surveys. 
Transported  with  the  view,  I'm  lost 

In  wonder,  love  and  pr;iise  I  " 

So  may  we  feel  wlien  we  contemplate  the  works  of  creation.  Some 
might  suppose  it  is  too  much  to  think  it  was  done  in  tlie  literal  time 
allowed  for  it  in  the  Bible.  Bat  if  we  believe  He  was  ages  in  creating 
them  that  would  not  at  all  simplify  the  question.  The  only  mystery 
aboiit  it  is  the  fact  that  He  could  create  at  all.  If  He  could  create  he 
could  do  it  in  a  short  time  as  well  as  in  a  long  time.  Is  any  thing — 
He  himself  asks  the  question — too  hard  for  the  Lord?  Gen.  18-14.  If 
He  is  the  Lord  that  explains  it  all.  Again  He  saith  :  "with  (lod  all 
things  are  possible,"  Matthew,  19-26. 

If  we  have  faith  in  Him,  as  the  Bilile  teaches  faith  in  Him,  all  else 
connected  wit  h  the  Scriptural  account  of  creation  is  sufficiently  plain. 
Faith  uiiderstands  how  the  w^orld  could  be  framed  by  the  word  of 
such  a  Being  as  that,  Heb.  11--}. 

The  light  did  not  have  to  travel  from  one  world  to  another  but  was 
created  in  them  all  at  once.  That  was  the  first  day  dawn  this  world 
ever  saw;  but  not  to  be  followed  by  a  rising  sun.  God  saw  the  liglit 
at  tliat  first  day  break  and  it  was  good.  No  doiibt  but  it  was  a  splen- 
did, exquisitely  beautiful  light;  for  the  time  being,  answering  all  iiis 
purposes.  "God  called  tlie  light  day,  and  the  darkness  he  called 
nigjit,"  He  had  a  right  to  name  them  for  he  made  tliem.  "And 
the  evening  and  the  morning" — so  he  called  them  from  the  begin- 
ning— "were  the  first  day."  And  a  happy  day  it  was.  ()  that  all 
that  have  followed  it  had  been  as  free  from  sin  and  sorrow! 

It  was  a  day  of  wonder.  A  day  when  God  reigned  without  a  rival. 
When  nauglit  of  evil  conti-avened  His  will.  Blessed  first  day,  that 
looked  out  upon  virgin  worlds  rolling  in  splendor!  Having  in  them 
buds  of  rising  promise  imfolding  to  duly  bloom  for  the  interest  of  an- 
gels and  for  the  happiness  of  coming  immortals,  wiiich  shall  lead 
them  step  by  step  as  tliey  shall  understand  by  fait li  to  give  greater 
glory  to  the  Maker  of  all.  Glorious  first  day,  pattern  of  all  the  rest, 
not  only  in  leno-fh,  in  number  of  liours — but  in  doing  tlieir  Maker's 
will. 

As  we  have  seen  as  soon  as  the  eartli  and  lier  attendant  worlds 
were  created  tliey  were  set  in  motion  according  to  the  Divine  concep- 
tipn  of  a  well  matured,  perfect  plan.  The  earth  moved  on  in  lier 
trackless  patli  througli  space  revolving  on  her  axis,  and  around  tlie 
sun,  and  He,  tliough  then  with  no  more  light  or  heat  than  any  other 
of  them,  except  as  to  his  bulk,  by  the  laws  of  attraction  held  her  to 
her  place.  Relatively  speaking  the  first  half  of  tliat  first  revolution 
of  the  earth  on  her  axis  was  in  darkness — amooidess,  starles-:  niglit — 
nor  was  there  a  rooster  to  give  the  signal  of  approaching  day. 


'IMIK  STOIJY   OK  CHKATION.  ->• 

Eveiiini,'  ill  llir  narriit ivtMiieaiis  cartli's  u\'^\\\  and  iiioni'mu-,  her  day 
at  relative  points.  Evening- is  mentioned  first  l)eeause  it  was  n  halt 
a  day  before  tlie  Lord  produeed  any  material  liirht.  "The  lii,dif  of  this 
world."  .lohn  11:*.).  P^)ll()\vinii;  1  lie  order  of  nat  ure  from  t  he  lieuin- 
nin.y  w.'  liave  lirsl  theni.L'ht,  then  the  day.  We  sh..idd  hear  this  in 
mind.  And  of  eonrse,  it  look  then,  as  now,  a  (•oini)lele  revolution  of 
the  earth  on  her  axis  to  nnike  a  day — twenty-four  houi's.  They  were 
jnst  as  lon^  Ihen  as  mnv,  and  no  loni;'er.  It  took  as  many  to  make  a 
year  as  now,  and  no  inorr.  1  have  heard  some  ])ersons  say  th(\v 
believed  Methusalah's  years  were  shorter  than  ours.  But  that  could 
not  be.  For  earth's  days  and  her  years  were  naturally  tixecl  at  the 
beginnino- — have  always  been  o'overned  by  the  same  laws — whi(d)  alter 
not.     And  will  be  so  governed  until  the  end  of  time. 

Grand,  majestie  day's  work  this!  Worthy  of  the  Supreme  Being. 
Like  laying  the  foundation  of  a  great  fabric,  to  be  embellished  and 
finished  afterwards,  as  we  shall  see. 

O,  sweet  first  day!     Thou  wert  blessed  to  see; 
The  first  set  of  eve,  and  morn's  first  rise; 
And  Thine  it  was,  out  of  the  womb  of  the  night, 
To  bring  forth  the  light,  as  a  maiden  fair, 
("basing  the  darkness  away;   and  for  aye, 
Filling  all  tlie  space  with  day. 


(iHAPTEFv   n. 

SECOND  DAY'S  WORK. 

THK   .M.\k'lN(i  OK    rHK    Kl  K  >r.\.MKN  T ITS  OFl'K'KS  AND  XiSKS. 

The  margin  calls  it  "The  expansion."  The  dreator  now  (deared 
the  way  between  the  orbits  of  the  different  bodies  He  had  made, 
throughout  the  whole  universe,  so  there  would  be  nothing  to  interfere 
with  tlie  operations  of  the  firmament  in  the  mutual  effect  the  worlds 
were  to  have  upon  eacdi  other,  in  light,  warmth,  attraction  or  other 
sympathy  that  might  be  needed. 
'  ^\'hiie  the  earth,  or  any  of  the  others,  was  in  Chaos,  of  course,  there 
would  be  .s£hj,smatie  and  volcanic  eruptions — tremendous  explosions — 
through  and  through  its  bulk.  Or  powerful  coufiiets,  at  least, 
between  opposing  elements,  until  everything  found  its  proper  con- 
sistency and  equilibrium.  And  if  there  was  any  loose  nuvtter  floating 
in  the  spaces  between  tlieir  orbits  He  now  caused  it  to  adhere  to  the 
solid  bodies — going  tlirough  a  process  of  condensation — in  ord(n-  to 
make  room  for  the  stretching  out- of  this  expansion,  whidi  was  to 
connect  tliem  together,  as  a  great  membrane  does  the  dilferent  parts 
of  a  living  animal,  and  holds  them  together.  As  the  Bible  says,  "He 
spread  out  the  sky,  which' is  strong."  .lob  o7:lS.  Doubtless,  it  is 
•  for  mutual  sympathy  throughout  the  whole  universe  and  holds  all  of 
its  parts  together. 

The  system  could  not  be  operated  by  initural  laws  without  tlie  firm- 
ament. '  T'p  to  this  time  miraculous  powei-  had  filled  its  place.  .  Neb- 
ula? are  never  dense  enough    to    interfere  with  the  operations  of    the 


G.  THK  STORY  OF  ORKATIOX. 

lirnianieiil.  Neitlier  luive  they  been  known  to  condense  into  solid 
bodies.  Their  peeuliar  conditions  and  uses  in  nature  are  unknown  to 
men.     Xor  do  men  know  the  uses  of  asteroids. 

If  small  tliinii-s  are  needed  on  enrtli  for  its  beauty,  hijjher  perfec- 
tioti  and  utility,  doubtless  the  same  is  true  of  the  upper  i*ealms.  If 
for  nothino'  else,  for  the  j'^'lory  of  the  Creator.  We  know  they  do  not 
interfere  with  their  lary-er  neii^'hbors.  They,  no  douV)t,  add  much  to 
the  l)eauty,  strenj^tli  and  perfection  of  the  whole. 

But  as  llie  liny  flower  and  the  small  insect  never  o'row  into  large 
ones,  so  tlu'S(>  little  worlds  never  make  large  ones.  Just  as  all  other 
little  adults,  they,  too,  remain  little.  Neither  sliould  they  be 
ashamed  because  the  great  Creator  of  all  made  them  little,  for  they 
are  just  as  lionorable  in  His  sight  as  the  large  ones. 

Tlien'  are  strikiiii:-  analogies  in  the  several  departments  of  nature, 
which  will  hel|)  us  to  reason  from  the  known  to  the  unknown  with  a 
high  degree  of  satisfaction  if  we  have  faitli,  as  we  should,  in  the  great 
(Creator  of  all.  All  of  our  Savior's  parables  ai'e  based  upon  this  prin- 
ciple, from  facts  the  people  knew  He  led  them  into  those  they  had 
not  before  known. 

The  universe  is  like  unto  a  great  piece  of  jnachinery  that  has  large 
and  small  wheels,  and  the  spaces  between  the  wheels  are  adjusted 
according  to  the  size  and  powers  of  the  wheels.  The  solid  bodies,  the 
spheres,  are  the  wheels  that  never  stop.  The  spaces  between  are 
tilled  by  that  firmament  the  Creator  made  on  the  second  day  of  crea- 
tion. It  goes  around  every  one  of  the  wheels,  connects  them  all  to- 
gether more  firmly  than  man  ever  banded  machinery  together.  Won- 
derful in  greatness  here;  no  less  so  in  smallness  there.  Tlie  students 
in  astronomy  will  be  astonished  when  they  find  out,  if  they  ever  do, 
how  many  little  worlds  it  clasj^s,  like  bands  on  small  wheels,  when 
compared  with  others  in  the  system,  too  small  for  their  means  of 
vision  to  take  them  in  before.  But  they  have  been  there  all  the 
while — doing  their  Maker's  will — though  like  many  of  His  faithful 
servants  on  earth,  they  have  never  i-eceived  any  recognition  before. 

•Tlie  firnuinient  was  made  to  divide  the  waters  on  the  earth  from  the 
waters  above  the  earth.  This  is  according  to  other  Scripture  quota- 
tions. "The  earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fullness  thereof ;  for  He  hath 
founded  it  upon  the  seas  and  established  it  upon  the  floods."  Ps. 
24:1-2.  "Praise  Him,  ye  heaven  of  heavens  and  ye  waters  above  the 
heavens."  Ps.  148  :4.  "To  Him  that  stretched  out  fhe  earth  above 
tJie  waters."  Ps.  186:0.  In  all  these  there  is  a  reference  to  (Jen. 
1  :6-S:  "By  His  Spirit  He  has  garnished  tlie  lieavens.  "He  stretch- 
eth  out  the  North  over  the  em]ity  place,  and  hangeth  the  earth  upon 
nothing."     Job  26  :7-l'}. 

The  men  who  wrote  these  Scriptures  nuist  have  been  inspired  of 
Cod,  or  else  were  well  advanced  in  natural  philosophy,  for  common 
observation  would  not  see  the  truth  they  teach,  because  it  does  not 
naturally  ap])ear  that  there  is  water  above  tlie  earth. 

But  l)otli  inspiration  and  science  teach  us  that  above  and  below  are 
only  relative  terms.  Therefore,  what  is  up  in  one  part  of  the  earth 
would  be  dov.-n  in  another.  Yet,  naturally  enouu-h,  does  it  appear 
that  on  the  opposite  side  to  us  something  would    be    needed    to    keep 


TIIK  S^roin'  OK  CltKATloX.  7. 

the  water  from  spillinj^  off  of  tlu-carlh.  Bill  lliis  tinnaKU-nt  holds 
the  water  to  the  earth  all  around  the  earth.  ( )1  hcrwisc  she  would 
lose  her  water  hy  evaporation,  it'  in  no  other  way. 

There  iiuiy  he,  for  aucyht  we  know,  in  atmospheric  form,  more  water, 
at  all  tinu^s,  ahove  the  earth  than  on  it.  But  let  that  he  as  it  may, 
it  matters  not  to  us,  for  as  the  prophet  says  :  'Mr  hath  made  the 
eartli  hy  His  power,  lie  hath  estahlished  the  world  hy  His  wisdom 
and  hath  slretehed  out  the  heavens  hy  His  discretion.  W'lien  He 
utteretli  His  voice,  there  is  a  multitude  of  waters  intlie  licaveiis,  and 
He  causeth  the  vapors  to  as(rend  froni  the  ends  of  the  earth."  .ler. 
10:12-1;].  What  suhlime  expressions  are  these!  How  <i-lorious  His 
actions!      Wortliy  of  God! 

The  Lord  saw  tit  hy  means  of  the  lirnianient.  throu^li  its  cjiven 
powers,  to  separate  the  waters  under  the  lirnunnent,  from  those  above 
it.  This  was  necessary  to  protect  life  on  the  earth.  Neither  animal 
nor  vegetable  would  be  safe  without  it;  and  there  would  beo-reatdan- 
.ij;er  that  Init  for  the  laws  of  the  firmament,  water  spouts  and  cloud- 
bursts would  often  imperil  life  upon  the  earth;  tor  we  would  die  from 
drouth  and  h^txt.  Some  of  the  laws  of  this  firmanu^nt  seem  to  have 
been  suspended  in  time  of  the  flood.  By  the  laws  of  the  firmament 
the  oceans  are  held  in  due  bounds,  and  all  bodies  of  water  allowed  to 
emit  their  proportional  amount  of  moisture  for  the  dry  land.  And 
hy  it  in  time  of  cloud,  wind  and  rain,  the  inhabitants  of  earth  are  pro- 
tected from  dan<,'er,  except  at  times  when  the  equilibrium  is 
unusually  disturbed,  for  reasons  unknown  to  us.  He  suffers  some  to 
l)e  hurt . 

Theearth  exists  in  hn-  own  atmosphere  in  the  midst  of  this  vajior- 
ous  matter.  So,  in  tlic  sense  of  the  Psalmist,  it  is  founded  upon  the 
seas,  and  established  upon  the  floods.  We  j^-uess  one  would  think  so 
if  he  was  detained  about  three  days  at  sea  in  a  dense  London  f o<>: ;  or 
a  day  and  a  half  in  Hell's  Gate  on  Long  Island  sound   in  a  heavy  fog. 

•'They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business  in  great 
waters;  tlieseseethe  works  of  the  Lord,  and  His  wonders  in  the 
deep.*'  Ps.  1(>7  : 2*5-24.  From  experience  they  there  learn  more  of 
the  meaning  and  general  application  of  the  Scri])tures  on  the  subject 
of  the  firnniment ,  in  its  ofliices  and  uses,  than  they  would  on  land. 
Perhaps  some  would  think  the  expression  in  .loh,  "He  hangelji  the 
earth  upon  nothing,"  Job  2B:7,  to  be  more  scientific. 

Go  where  you  may,  you  see  nothing  that  seems  to  supjjort  the 
earth;  but  on  the  contrary,  she  appears  to  su])ijort  everything  else. 
Doubtless,  she  is  held  in  her  place  by  the  laws  of  gravitation,  and  tlie 
firmament  has  much  to  do  with  it,  as  an  adjuster  of  gravitation.  It 
is  called  the  firmament  of  His  power.  Ps,  lo(l:l.  The  word  literally 
means  strength.  His  power  is  ordinarily  exerted  through  it,  and.  at 
times,  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  to  accomplisli  His  pur))oses 
throughout  the  universe. 

It  has  been  said  that  every  s<[uare  fool  of  the  enrlhs  surface  sus- 
tains constantly  about  21  (JO  ]jounds  of  atmospheric  jjressure'.  But  for 
this  we  could  not  stand  upon  it.  See  the  goodness  of  the  Greator  in 
this  arrangenu^nt  for  our  safety  and  comfort ;  for  He  put  nothing  on 
it  until  He  got  it  ready  to  be  occupied. 


8.  THE  STORY  OF  ORKATTOX. 

To  the  evf ,  if  we  could  see  all  around  the  earth  at  once,  it  would 
seem  to  have  no  foundation,  yet  it  has  a  foundation  ;  and  this  is  its 
own  centre  of  o-ravity,  which  is  so  perfect,  although  we  are  travelino- 
continually  at  the  rate  of  68,000  miles  an  hour,  we  are  not  in  the  least 
disturhed  hy  the  motion.  The  earth  ever  seems  to  be  still,  while  all 
other  spheres  appear  to  move  around  her. 

Many  have  a  curiosity  to  know  what  is  at  the  north  pole.  As  yet, 
no  living  man  knows.  But  if  it  is  ever  reached  ;  we  dare  say  it  will  he 
found,  as  it  is  said  in  the  Book  of  Job,  an  "empty  pJace."  26:7.  He 
said  it  hy  inspiration  and  knew  not  himself  the  full  meaning  of 
what  he  said.  1  Peter  1:10-12,  the  revised  version  says:  "Over 
empty  space."'  According  to  that,  there  is  an  ultimate  north  beyond 
the  pole ;  as  tliere  is  an  ultimate  east  beyond  the  eastern  limits  of 
our  sphere. 

The  Scriptures  often  use  the  expression  :  "Stretched  out  the  hea- 
vens." Is.  44:24,  Ps.  104:2,  Job  9:8,  Is.  42:5  and  Is.  40:22,  all  of 
which  have  reference  to  the  greatness  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  the 
expanse  hetw^een  them  and  the  incalculable  breadth  of  the  whole. 
Notwithstanding  the  expansion  is  so  great ,  it  is  so  transparent  we  can 
see  clear  through  it,  unaided  by  art,  to  the  remotest  star  visible  to  the 
natural  eye,  from  the  earth  to  the  moon,  sun,  planets  and  fixed  stars. 
In  Job  87:18,  it  is  compared  to  a  molten  looking  glass,  both  for  its 
transparenc}'  and  for  reflecting  the  glory  of  the  Creator.     Rom.  1  :20. 

Gen.  1:7:  "And  it  was  so."  None  of  His  orders  failed.  They 
were  all  promptly  obeyed.  He  called  the  firmament  Heaven.  That 
is  the  aerial  and  ethereal,  not  tlie  spiritual  heaven.  Hence  all  orbs 
separated  by  it  from  us  are  called  heavenly  bodies.  Gen.  1:8:  "And 
the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the'seeond  day." 

Compared  with  tlie  other  Divine  work  of  a  day,  this,  at  first,  seems 
to  be  less  great  ;  but  clearer  observation  sliows  it  to  be  quite,  if  not 
equally  as  great,  and,  if  one  might  so  speak,  finer  work.  For  remem- 
ber that  that  delicate,  aerial  and  ethereal  garnishing  needed  al)out 
the  earth  was  needed  also  about  the  sun,  and  every  planet,  and  every 
star.  Every  one  of  them  had  not  only  skies,  but  atmospliei'es  too,  at 
first,  before  tlie  heat  of  the  sun  interfered,  as  it  is  supposed,  with 
those  nearest  to  him,  as  Mercury.  And  the  void  between  must  be 
filled  by  the  firmament  with  its  laws,  powers,  influences  and  uses. 

How  fin(>,  how  skillful  this!  called  figuratively  "Plis  handy  work." 
Ps.  19:1.  And  "the  work  of  His  fingers."  Ps.  8:8  Yea,"  what  a 
wonderful  day's  work  to  provide  atmospheres  and  skies  for  all  these 
stupendous  worlds,  with  laws  and  regulations  suited  to  each,  for  the 
protection  and  comfort  of  every  one,  and  to  improve  the  almost  lim- 
itless spaces  between  for  the  good  of  all ! 

When  the  Lord  had  given  Moses  instructions  in  regard  to  the  foun- 
dation and  framework  of  the  taberna(de  "in  the  Mount,"'  He  gave 
him  particular  orders  about  the  beautiful  curtains  with  which  it  was 
to  be  covered  around  and  overhead.  The  Jews  thought  it  was  a  type 
of  the  universe.  So  in  the  first  day's  work  of  Creation,  we  have  the 
foundation  aiid  framework  of  the  materia!  imiverse,  in  the  second, 
its  embellishiuenl  in  the  Iieautiful  aerial,  ethereal  coverings  which 
adorn  evei-y  s|)lier(',  al)ove  "and  on  eitlier  side" — more  beautiful,   by 


TllK  STolJY   OK  <'HF, AT !()>;.  '->- 

far,  llinii  lln-  ml,  wliitt-  nml  hlur  of  llu'  arlilirial  lalicniacK-. 

Tliink  of  tlial  Hih'  ami  infinite  skill  whicli  aajusti-d  (he  at  iiii)Si)lu-iv 
so  as  to  pnxliicf  tin-  lij-liesl  pleasuiv.  not  (Mily  to  His  luiiuan  chil- 
dren, ))iit  also  to  overv  sentient  creatinv.  In  its  perfect  blendm.y-  of 
colors  so  as  to  be  easy  and  pleasant  to  the  eyes,  and  to  irive  tlie  most 
ao-reeahle  emotions  Icx-verv  beholder  of  nature  in  her  beauty  and  low- 
liness—in  her  irnin<leur  ;sud  majesty.  Witliout  the  iniluence  (.f  1h.' 
ntniosphere  upon  t  he  sun's  rays  liis  lio;ht  Avould  be  ])ainful  to  our 
eyes:  l)ut  this  was  provided  for  us  before  we  entered  in.  to  )><■  ready 
for  us  at  our  coming. 

In  its  perfect  system  of  acoustics  so  as  not  to  startle  our  t('elin,i;s 
or  to  ijrate  upon  our  lym])aiuinis,  but  to  greet  our  ears  with  the  most 
harmonious  and  sweetest  sounds,  upon  its  perfect  vibrations  the 
human  voice,  especially  the  speech  of  love,  is  sweeter  to  us  than  llie 
finest  music. 

'\\'ho  will  not  u'lve  the  praise  due  unto  His  name  for  such  (hsplays 
of  His  wisdom  and  of  His  goodness  to  all  His  creatures,  an<l  espe- 
cially to  the  children  of  men'.'  '•Let  every  thing  that  hath  l)reath 
pnii.se  the  Lord."      Ps.  ir)():('). 

'•()  fair  second  day,  when  thou  ciimest  forth; 

I'shering  star  nor  sun  didst  thy  steps  escort  '. 

Though  under  thy  feet  were  crystal  waters  many. 

Sending  forth  radiance  more  l>righl, 

P.y  far,  tlian  millions  of  sparkling  gems. 

Thy  hands  aright  to  guide'. 

Thou  wert  as  hajipy  as  charity  ! 

For  the  naked  worlds  didst  thou  take 

And  robe,  as  in  garments  of  aerial  splendor. 

.\nd  then  for  their  delight,  as  well  as  for  their  use. 

Filled  all  the  space  between  with  ethereal  blue; 

And  thes(>  together  thou  didst  blend,  for  true, 

All  of  beaiitv's  colors." 


Cll.M'TFU  in. 

THIRD  DAY'S  WORK. 

Thk  heavenly  Ixxlies,  the  earth,  water,  light ,  at  mosijheric  and  et  he- 
real  air.  and  all  inherent  properties  beh)nging  to  eacli  were 
created  on  the  first  and  second  days;  so  after  this,  we  shall  see  that 
it  is  out  of  these  the  others  are  made.  Hi'nce  i1  is  »;aid :  -'(lod 
created  and  made."'  (hmi.  l';o.  The  margin  says:  -'Created  to 
make."      Me  created  them  for  the  ])urpose  of  making. 

Hitlicrlo— since  \hc  middle  of  llie  first  day— the  earth  was  covered 
all  over  vvith  water.      Doubtless  we  may  in  truth  say: 

.Vnd  now  she  was  a  s])here  of  even  surface, 

Covered  all  o'er  with  water  of  e(|ual  depth; 

Nor  was  there  any  ice  to  be  found, 

.Vnywhere,  the  wliole  earth  around  ; 

For  from  centre  to  either  ])ole. 

.\  gentle  heal,  an  e(pial  warmt  h.  pt'rnicated  the  whole. 


10.  TITK  STOHV  OF  CREATIOX. 

And  I  tliink  it  is  hiuhly  pi-obabk'  tluit  the  same  misi'lit  be  Irulh- 
fiiliy  said  ot"  all  the  rest.  But  there  was  a  wonderful  experience 
awa)tiii<>;  the  eartli  on  the  tliird  day;  and  perhaps  eaeh  of  the  otliers 
too.  By  tlie  bej^'inniii"-  of  tlae  third  day  tlie  earth  had  liecome  suffi- 
cientl,y  strong;',  solid,  compacted  and  stratified  to  bear  the  i^-reat  strain 
the  Creator  carried  lier  tliroug'h  to  o'ive  lier  that  uneven,  varieji'ated  sur- 
face she  has  since  had;  and  I  believe  the  same  statement  can  be  truly 
made  in  rein'ard  lo  1  he  condition  and  experience  of  all  the  heavenly 
boflies.  (len.  1  :U.  "And  God  said,  let  the  waters  under  the  heavens 
be  ji'athered  toi>'ether  unto  one  place."  The  word  water  is  plural;  for 
this  reason,  perhaps,  because  the  command  embraced  the  water  on 
other  spheres,  as  well  as  the  water  on  the  earth;  and  the  separation 
of  land  and  water  be  experienced  in  those  as  well  as  in  the  earth. 

■'And  let  tlie  di\v  land  ap])ear."'  It  is  evident  from  this,  that  up  to 
this  lime  the  whole  surface  of  the  earth — for  the  last  day  and  a  half — 
had  been  under  water.  The  land,  at  least  no  dry  land,  could  be  seen 
until  the  water  was  removed.  And  to  do  this  the  surface  of  the  earth 
must  be  broken  up  into  sufficient  unevenness.  In  the  very  sublime 
language  of  the  Creator,  Job  88:10,  is  a  reference  to  this:  ''And 
brake  up  for  it  my  decreed  place."  This  shows  that  He  had  a  fixed 
plan  in  His  mind  when,  or  before,  He  began  ;  and  that  before  this  the 
whole  surface  of  the  earth  was  even.  It  shows,  too,  how  He  formed 
the  sea,  and  brought  up  the  dry  land. 

''And  it  was  so."  His  orders  were  promptly  obeyed.  "Tlie  waters 
saw  thee.  ()  God,  the  waters  saw  thee,  at  thy  rebuke  they  fled."  Ps. 
7T:1G.  "At  the  voice  of  thy  thunder  they  hasted  away."  Ps.  1<)4  : 
."i-lll.  It  was  the  majestic  voice  of  Him  who  afterward  said  to  the 
sea:  "Peace,  be  still."  .Mark  4:89.  And  she  obeyed.  "He  looU- 
eth  upon  the  earth  and  it  trenibleth,"  He  tou(dieth  the  hills  and  they 
smoke.  The  mountains  flow  down  at  His  presence.  The  presence  of 
the  God  of  the  whole  earth." 

The  whole  earth  was  convulsed  at  this  command.  She  heaved  and 
roared  like  a  tliousand  volcanoes,  and  mon^^great  mountain  ranges 
came  up  quite  from  one  end  of  the  earth  to  the  other.  Inferior  ones 
quite  parallel  with  them  formed  ranges  of  high  ridges — the  hills  came 
in  sight — and  the  great  table  lands  appeared.  Beautiful  islands  v,-ere 
formed  and  the  grand  continents  came  in  view.  The  waters  went  olf 
with  sucli  a  roaring  as  was  never  heard  before  nor  since.  It  exceeded 
the  flood  of  Noah.  P^or  then  the  assuagement  of  the  water  was  grad- 
ual— by  natural  ])rocesses.     But  now  it  was  sudden,  miraculous. 

They  moved  with  a  mighty,  rushing  power,  sweeping  out  glens, 
ravines  and  canyons  through  the  mountain  sides — forming  channels 
through  the  jjlainsfor  great  rivers  and  for  all  streams  of  water;  scoop- 
ing out  basins  for  ponds,  lakes,  gulfs,  liays,  seas  and  oceans.  What 
a  grand  scene  it  was  I  Xow  that  happy  allusion  of  the  Psalmist,  104  ; 
H-8,  began  to  be  realized.  For  then  the  waters  went  up  by,  or  with, 
the  mountains,  and  down  by  the  valleys.  And  they  liave  done  so 
ever  since. 

Plence  well  digy-ers  find  veins  of  water  almost  anywhere  they  dig  a 
well  or  l)oi-e  for  the  deejier  water.  In  many  limestone  countries 
streams  of  water  are  known  to  gush  forth  at  the  foot  of  hills  or  other 


'11  IK  S'lOin'  OK  CH  KATION.  II. 

places — foi'iii  spi'inufs.  ponds  or  lakes — and  lie  lost  undiM^yi'onnd  a,Lfain 
in  their  exit  to  the  sea.  Hence,  too,  ocean  explorers  lind  mouths  of 
rivers  eniptyinj;  into  the  ocean  far  below  the  surface  of  the  earth.  As 
in  the  human  body  the  blood  is  propelled  from  tlie  heart  upwards  to 
the  hiii-hest  extremities  as  well  as  d(nvnward  to  the  lowest,  whether 
the  person  is  lyin»  horizontal  or  stanrlin.^  ere<-1. 

rto  in  the  earth,  from  the  ocean  water  is  pro|)elled  ihrouyh  the 
j^-rouiid  and  up  under  the  surface  to  the  highest  i>oints  of  land;  as  wu 
see  on  the  to])s  of  the  hi<>:liesl  mountains  s])rings  of  cool,  pure  water 
and  limpid  fountains  fiowina;  from  thein.  Thence  they  descend  in 
rills  and  brooks  and  larircr  streams,  sinjj-int;  as  they  .a;o  on  their  heaven 
appointed  mission — to  water  and  replenish  the  eartli — l)]essin<j  wher- 
ever they  go,  all  sentient  nature  with  life  and  joy.  As  the  prophet 
says  of  tlie  spiritual  waters,  "everything  liveth  where  they  come.'" 
Ez.  47:9.  By  which  process  the  waters  are  relieved  of  impurities,  and 
the  surface  of  the  earth  renewed.     Ps.  104:80. 

These  laws,  fixed  on  the  third  day  of  Cr(>ation — like  all  the 
rest — have  stood  fast  unto  this  day.  How  wise  and  how  good  are  all 
His  works  I     ^^'ho  shall  fail  to  praise  Him. 

"And  (Jod  called  tlie  dry  land  Earth;  and  the  gathering  together 
of  the  waters  called  He  Seas."  It  was  His  privilege  to  name  them — 
not  by  right  of  discovery,  but  of  authorship.  He  was  the  first  geo- 
gi"a]iher.  On  this  day  He  fixed  the  natural  geography  of  the  whole 
oai'th,  reserving  to  Himself  the  right  to  make  such  changes  from  time 
to  time  as  he  saw  fit.  .lust  so,  too,  with  the  geology  of  all  the  earth — 
reserving  to  Himself  the  inherent  right  to  make  such  changes  in  it  as 
He  saw  proper  from  time  to  tiuu'.  He  was  the  first  geologist.  It  is 
wise  for  a  7nan  to  be  careful  how  he  treads  upon  these  subjects. 

If  any  man  will  consider  the  tremendous  forces  that  were  necessary 
to  bring  tlie  earth  from  the  previous  condition  she  had  on  thefirstand 
second  days  of  creation  to  that  form — shapement  of  general  contour — 
which  He  gave  her  on  this  day — the  third — He  will  see  in  it  aloxk 
sufficient  reasons  to  account  for  all  geologists  have  complained  of. 
The  force  that  woiild  raise  not  only  one,  but  many  mountains  miles 
above  the  sea  level  and  sink  the  deeps  to  as  great  distances  below  is 
suffi(nent  to  account  for  all  the  breaks  and  irregularities  in  the  gen- 
eral structure  of  the  earth.  And  truly  all  that  we  know  about  it  is 
but  little  comj)ared  to  that  which  we  do  not  know. 

Mow  He  gave  to  the  seas  their  bounds  and  said  to  them,  thus  far 
shall  ye  come,  and  no  farther,  unless  I  give  you  orders.  ".Vnd  (iod 
saw  that  it  was  good."     So  it  was.     Who  could  have  made  it  better? 

The  earth  was  now  in  a  tine  condition  for  vegetation,  and  the  (Crea- 
tor gave  hiM"  vegetative  powers.  And  out  of  the  earth  He  caused  grass 
to  spring  up  without  "seeding  it  down."  Observe  everything  was 
created  in  adult  form,  or  else  rapidly  came  to  it  iriiraculously.  Every 
plant  that  had  seed  in  itself  rej)rodu('ed  itself  afterward  by  natural 
processes.  Of  course  some  plants  can  be  rei)roduced  by  slips,  grafts, 
buds  and  scions.  And  naturalists  say  some  of  the  lowest  forms  of 
animal  life,  in  certain  waters,  can  be  reproduced  by  budding.  But  in 
b:)th  cases  the  M})ecies  is  preserved  through  the  sap  or  blood,  or  that 
fluid  which  answers  for  blood,  whi(di  is  as  seed.      Kor  the  life  is  in  the 


12.  TMK  STORY  OF  (!RKATT()X. 

blood  in  the  one,  and  in  llie  sap  in  the  otiier. 

"And  God  said,  lei-  tJie  eartli  brinj^'  forth  grass."  Or,  let  the  earth 
bud  forth  tlie  budding  grass.  This  word  seems  powerless  in  itself; 
but  the  earth  heard  and  obeyed.  Tlie  whole  surface  of  the  arable 
land  was  soon  covered  with  tender,  springing  grass.  \\'hat  a  beauti- 
ful scene!  A  virgin  globe,  except  where  water  intervened,  covered 
with  prettiest  green  I  Earth  has  no  meadows,  or  otlier  landscape 
views,  now  tliat  can  compare,  in  extent  or  beauty,  or  loveliness,  with  it . 

Soon  i(  v\as  in  bloom,  waving  in  the  gentle  breezes,  which  wafted 
the  aroma  to  the  skies  t.o  regale  the  sense  of  smell  in  angels  and  in 
God.  (it-n.  8:21.  For,  nor  men,  nor  women,  but  angels  enjoyed  with 
tlie  grc^at  (-reator  tliis  first  virgin  sweetness  that  arose,  as  grateful 
incense,  from  the  bosom  of  the  earth.  Numerous  other  flowers  min- 
gled with  the  flowering  grass.  How  sweet!  How  pretty!  For  all 
flowering  plants  and  liarmless  weeds — such  as  were  designed  only  for 
beauty  or  sweetness,  from  the  tiniest  to  the  greatest,  were  now  crea- 
ted in  their  highest  perfection.  How  fragrant  was  eartli's  atiuos- 
phere  then.  'Twas  a  luxury  to  breathe  in  it.  O,  scene  of  exfjuisite 
beauty  and  perfect  sweetness!  what  a  pity  thou  wert  ever  marred  by 
the  cruel  tread  of  sin  ! 

But  in  the  midst  of  it  all  there  was  a  lack.  For  the  Lord  did  not 
have  a  man  to  till  His  land.  Gen.  2:5.  To  supply  to  some  extent 
this  want  He  helped  tlie  fertile  powers  of  tlie  virgin  earth  by  causing 
a  mist  to  rise — ascend  from  the  waters — and  to  gently  water  the 
whole  face  of  the  ground.     Gen.  2  :(>. 

By  His  next  word  He  called  for  all  kinds  of  herbs  yielding  seed. 
Soon  they  appeared;  in  sufficient  quantities,  scattered  over  the  land, 
with  all  manner  of  grain  suitalile  for  food  for  man,  or  beast,  or  fowl, 
sprang  up  among  the  grass  and  weeds  and  flow(M's,  grew,  bloomed 
and  rapidly  went  to  maturity. 

By  His  next  command  came  forth  out  of  tlie  fertile  soil  all  luanncr 
of  fruit  trees,  yielding  fruit  after  their  kind.  Whetlier  any  or  all 
of  these  were  created  only  in  genera,  or  each  in  its  own  species,  we 
are  not  informed.  But  He  did  all  that  was  then  necessary,  reserving 
to  Himself  the  right  to  multiply  in  each  geiuis,  each  species,  and 
in  each  variety  afterwards,  as  the  whole  world  should  need.  And  flu- 
same  applies  to  all  the  rest. 

Ftider  that  all  generating  word  they  quickly  sprang  up — here  and 
thert — beautiful  spaces  apart — and  the  fruit-bearing  vines  along  with 
them — some  of  which  are  sometimes  called  vine-ti-ees. 

It  would  have  delighted  you  to  have  seen  that  process.  Kow 
quickly  they  grew  !  Mow  sweetly  they  bloomed!  And  how  rapidly 
the  fruit  ripened!  All  holding  themselves  in  readiness  for  the  com- 
ing heirs,  so  when  they  shoujd  come  no  creature  would  And  any  lack. 

Some  of  all  our  species — of  all  of  the  trojiics — of  all  of  the  whole 
earth — with  the  sweet  berry-bearing  vines  of  all  lands,  and  of  all 
kinds — were  tlien  created.  And  the  sweet  cane  that  bears  the  sac- 
charine juice  out  of  which  the  most  of  the  world's  supply  of  sugar  i.s 
!nade,  with  the  sugar  maple  and  all  vines  which  bear  sweet  melons, 
whether  foi-  perfumes  or  for  eating  purposes.     How  delicious  thev  are 


THE  ^?T()RY  OF  CREATION.  18. 

on  a  liot  Slimmer  day!  The  Fsraelites  in  the  wilderness  ionj^ed  for 
them.     Num.  Jl:."). 

This  command  included  the  persimmon,  the  chinquapin,  the  chest- 
nut, the  hickory  nut,  the  walnut,  the  almond,  the  pecan,  and  all 
other  kinds.  And  how  the  boys  do  love  them  in  the  winter  time, 
whether  they  think  about  who  made  them  or  not.  And,  too,  the  field 
pea.  the  turnip,  the  potato,  the  chufa  and  the  goober.  Then  canie 
the  shrubs — the  huckleberry,  the  sugarberry,  the  haw — red  and 
black — and  currants,  all  after  their  kind.  Last  of  all,  the  majestic 
forest  trees  at  His  bidding  sprang  up  on  the  hills,  ridges,  mountains, 
and  here  and  there  all  about  over  the  plains,  in  sufficient  quantities 
for  His  present  purposes,  to  bear  food  for  the  living  creatures  and  for 
man's  use  and  comfort  as  his  needs  should  require. 

A  sufficient  number  of  all  kinds  of  vegetable  growth  were  created 
on  this  day  to  answer  all  immediate  purposes;  and  these  were  the 
originals  all  have  since  sprang  from.  He  said  whose  seed  is  in  itself, 
Gen.  i:12;  after  its  kind.  An  interesting  scene  it  was,  surpassing  all 
the  thought  of  men  or  angels.  How  beautiful  every  landscape  of 
earth  then  !  How  fragrant  all  her  atmosphere,  from  bloom  and  well- 
ripened  fruit !  No  unsoundness,  no  disease,  no  decay,  no  death — of 
any  kind — anywhere.  Everything  pei-fectly  beautiful,  everything 
perfectly  pure,  everything  perfectly  healthy.  The  happy  days  and 
nights  were  then  of  equal  length  everywhere  on  earth — her  tempera- 
ture equally  pleasant  all  over  her  surface.  Grand,  lovely  world  she  was  ! 

We  should  consider  the  fact  that  the  Creator  did  not  have  to  cease 
his  work  to  rest  at  night.  Night  is  peculiar  to  us.  The  Lord  expe- 
riences no  night.  His  work  w^as  all  around  the  earth  alike,  and  while 
it  is  day  here  it  is  night  there.  And  His  work,  too,  may  have  gone 
on  upon  all  the  planets  as  on  the  earth.  His  providence  works  alike 
both  day  and  night  in  all  the  earth  now.  When  that  mist  arose  it 
would  correspond  with  the  rise  of  the  morning  in  the  longitude 
whence  Moses  wrote.  The  natural  humidity  of  the  earth  about  that 
time — the  middle  of  the  four  and  twenty  hours  of  the  third  day  of 
Creation — might  cause  dew,  fog  and  mist,  as  is  common  on  damp 
mornings.  It  must  have  been  a  strain  on  the  fertility  of  the  earth  to 
BRING  forth  this  vegetation  with  its  seed  in  itself,  which  means  adult 
state  for  every  species  of  plant  life.  And  her  spontaneous  produc- 
tion was  helped  by  that  mist.  We  must  bear  in  mind  that  it  was  all 
miraculous.  Without  duly  appreciating  this  principle  it  cannot,  at 
all  be  comprehended — it  is  understood  only  by  faith. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  all  this  growth  was  under  His  temporary 
system  of  light.  Thus  far  it  was  accomplished  without  sunlight.  It 
is  also  worthy  of  note  that  there  was  no  rain  (Gen.  2  if))  before  light 
and  heat  were  referred  to  the  sun.  And  further,  that  Creation  did 
not  extend  into  the  animal  kingdom  until  after  sunlight  was  produced. 

Much  of  the  surface  of  the  earth  was  made  non-productive.  It  is 
worth  more  to  mankind  at  large,  than  if  it  was  all  productive. 
Although  like  the  homely  woman — naturally  uninviting — yet  like 
her,  it  bears  the  richer  treasure  than  the  beautiful ;  for  the  appar- 
ently useless  parts  of  the  earth  are  richly  endowed  with  minerals  and 
valuable  metals    pouring    more  wealth  into  the    laj)  of    the  civilized 


14.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

world  than  mo  many  acres  of  her  surface  under  happy  cultivation. 
Hence,  He  made  great  quarries  of  granite,  beds  of  marble,  and  of  other 
kinds  of  rocks  and  stones,  coal,  minerals,  metals,  with  crystals  and 
diamonds,  in  layers,  veins  and  leads;  for  the  use  of  man  as  he  should 
have  need.  And  as  He  should  from  time  to  time  lead  his  thoughts  to 
search  for  them  ;  leaving  him  not  without  guides  to  find  them.  Like 
the  heavenly  treasui'e  it  is  hid.  He  has  to  search  for  it.  And  it 
shall — with  joy — be  found.  Matt.  18:44-40.  Both  are  alike  for  those 
wlio  seek. 

In  laying  (so  to  speak)  the  foundations  of  the  earth,  strength  and 
stability  were  necessary  for  the  great  strain  of  that  life  and  its  oper- 
ations slie  was  to  sustain,  and  that  increasing  more  and  more  with 
larger  pressure  tlirough  all  time  to  coiue.  Hence  He  made  her  solid, 
and  strongly  stratified  her  witli  the  strongest  sinews,  belts  of  rock 
and  stone.  But  if  she  had  been  more  dense  she  had  been  too  sterile 
to  support  her  millions  of  inhabitants.  If  she  had  been  less  dense 
she  would  have  been  too  weak  to  bear  the  great  weight  that  should 
press  upon  her  surface.  He  made  her  just  right.  The  less  density 
of  the  great  planets — as  Jupiter — shows  that  they  were  not  designed 
for  human,  nor  even  animal  life — that  they  are  not  suited  for  it.  It 
is  obvious  that  their  offices  are  to  serve  ^s  our-  earth,  and  they  give 
glory  to  the  Creator  in  doing  that  service. 

"It  was  so,"  as  He  commanded  it  to  be.  Everj^  one  has  descended 
down  to  us  "after  his  kind."  In  permitting  them  to  grow  together 
in  the  same  forest,  in  the  same  field,  and  in  all  lands,  yet  preserving 
each  genus  and  each  species  in  its  own  individuality,  without  mixing 
with  others.  What  a  wonderful  insight  and  oversight  is  this!.  Noth- 
ing short  of  infinite  wisdom  and  divine  power  could  have  done  it.  If 
He  has  suffered  any  changes  they  are  few,  and  are  alike  for  the  best 
and  agreeable  to  His  will.  ■ 

"And  (iod  saw  that  it  was  good."  So  it  was,  and  let  men  say  so. 
It  ail  merited  the  divine  approval.  It  may  mean  the  critical  judg- 
ment of  God  the  Father.  He  received  and  blessed  the  work  of  His 
son,  who  in  creation  was,  as  alter  in  redemption,  carrving  out  the  will 
•Df  His  Father. 

"And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the  third  day."  A  great 
day's  work  it  was.  When  we  look  at  its  particulars  it  seems  it  would 
keep  Him  busy  enough.  But  again  it  appears  to  have  been  easy, 
for  He  only  spake  the  word  and  it  was  instantly  done. 

Without  irreverence,  if  we  could  do  that,  fruit  raising  and  farming 
would  be  very  easy.  But  we  may  remember,  if  sin  had  not  been  we 
would  not  have  even  to  command,  but  would  have  only  to  gather  the 
fruits  of  the  earth,  and  they  would  be  free  for  all.  No  wonder  men 
have  written  of  a  golden  past.     It  reaches  back  to  Eden. 

And  Tiow  with  all  our  pride  we  are  but  low  descents  from  high 
originals.  This  is  the  marred  state  of  original  beauty.  Sin  instead 
of  holiness,  weakness  instead  of  strength,  mortality  instead  of  life, 
strain  instead  of  happy  leisiu-e — for  devotion,  scarcity  instead  of 
plenty;  danger,  instead  of  safety;  pain  instead  of  ease;  misery  instead 
of  liappiness  ;  war  instead  of  peace.  But  the  secon<l  and  sinless  Adam 
promises  a  second  paradise.     A  gift  but  won  by  being  prepared  for  it. 


THK  STOKY  OF  CKKATTON.  15. 

And  tlial  is  llie  hartl  part  ''of  it."'  Tlie  majority  do  not  choose  to 
prepare.  If  it  comes  to  them  when  they  will  be  tliankful  for  it,  it  is 
when  they  have  nothing  else.  Btit  alas,  alas,  when  the  sick  find  out 
they  are  poor,  and  none  to  help! 

This  day's  work  seems  to  have  been  confined  to  the  earth,  yet  what 
may  have  been  done  in  other  spheres  we  are  not  informed.  When 
,(irod  had  His  inspired  servants  to  write  tlie  history  of  their  own  peo- 
ple He  had  them  to  touch  t  he  history  of  other  nations  only  as  they  came 
in  contact  witli  them.  So  in  giving  the  history  of  the  creation  of  the 
earth  and  of  all  tliat  in  it  is  He  touches  upon  the  creation  of  otlier 
spheres  only  so  far  as  they  are  related  to  us  in  order  to  make  ours 
complete. 

But  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  third  day  was  the 
time  when  He  gave  the  other  planets  their  uneven,  permanent  sur- 
faces, as  He  did  the  earth.  And  wliether  they  have  any  bodies  of 
water  or  not,  it  is  obvious  that  they  can  do  us  l^etter  service  as  they 
are.  Having  uneven  surfaces  makes  them  better  radiators  of  both 
heat  and  light;  as  they  would  absorb  and  hold  the  more  of  each; 
they  can  do  us  more  good  in  the  night,  as  farmers  observe  the  cotton 
plant  grows  more  in  the  night  than  in  the  day;  or  does  best  on  warm 
nights.  It  is  legitimate  to  reason  from  analogy.  So  the  known  truth 
is  a  stepping-stone  from  which  we  may  reach  unto  the  unknown.  In 
this  broad  view  of  this  day's  work  it  grows  upon  us  as  truly,  divinely 
great. 

Happy  third  day.  Thou  didst  look  ont  upon 

A  newly  framed  universe,  with  worlds, 

Botji  greater  and  snuiller  in  rapid  whirls. 

In  exquisite  beauty  garnished  all — 

Each  with  water  clear  as  glass  covered  o'er; 

All  as  quiet  as  e'er  was  maiden  ])osom 

Tninoved  by  love! 

And  as  forth  from  the  womb  of  evenness. 

To  see  the  hills  and  mountains  rise 

All  adrip  with  the  brilliant  waters ; 

Which  to  all  eyes  presented  scenes  more  spleiulid ! 

And  then,  to  hear  those  tremendous  sounds. 

That  first  tried  the  acoustics  of  the  skies, 

Compared  with  which  Cotopaxi,  Etna,  Vesuvius, 

And  all  the  belching  host  were  but  babes. 

And  to  witness,  too,  the  forth  flowing 

Of  the  rapid,  roaring  streams 

That  filled  all  the  atmosphere  with  echoing  music; 

^^'hich  would  make  happy  childhood  shout  for  joy. 

True,  Thoii  wert  blest !     And  more,  Thine  it  was  to  see, 

Nature's  first  opening  bloom, 

To  catch  her  sweet  virgiii  fragrance — 

To  first  delight  thine  eyes  with  all  her  flowering  beauty — 

Then,  in  that  ravishing  scene  of  beauty. 

And  of  sweetness,  more,  to  feast  thy  sight  and  smell 

Upon  her  perfect  fruit. 

Yea,  thrice  blest,  wast  thoii  I 


16.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

FOURTH  DAY'S  WORK. 

I  BELiKVE  tlie  sun,  moon  and  star.s  were  all  created  on  the  first  day 
— at  its  beo:inning — set  in  motion  in  their  respective  orbits,  assigned 
their  places  in  space,  as  each  required  in  the  Creator's  plan ;  and  had. 
fulfilled  their  Master's  will  up  to  this  time ;  but  now  He  sets  them  as 
sentinels  over  the  earth,  assigns  to  each  his  post,  and  qualifies  him 
for  his  duty.     Gen.  I  :14-19. 

He  now  clothes  the  sun  with  light  and  with  heat.  Also,  in  some 
way  or  other,  sufficient  to  sustain  that  light.  Whether  by  means  of 
nebulae,  or  otherwise,  it  is  done.  If  he  is  a  globe  of  fire  he  was  not 
ignited  until  the  fourth  day  of  Creation.  It  may  be  gathering  so 
much  light  about  him  made  him  so  warm  and  bright,  that  he  has  ever 
since  appeared  as  if  he  were  a  world  on  fire. 

He  is  the  most  striking  figure  of  his  Master  of  anything  in  all  in- 
animate nature.  "The  Lord  God  is  a  sun."  Ps.  84:11.  "Our  God 
is  a  consuming  fire."  Heb.  12:29.  Christ  is  the  light  of  the  world, 
and  the  sun  of  righteousness. 

The  sun  is  now  made  master  of  the  light,  which  had  existed  from 
the  middle  of  the  first  day.  Up  to  this  time  the  day  and  the  night 
had  been  divided  by  other  means ;  but  now  power  is  given  to  the  sun 
to  separate  the  day  from  the  night ;  and  by  the  common  consent  of 
all  men  he  does  it  yet. 

The  moon  is  made  mistress  over  the  night,  reflecting  the  glory  of 
the  sun,  and  of  her  Creator,  in  a  milder  form.  In  this  office,  how- 
ever, she  seems  to  be  very  fickle,  sometimes  giving  us  much  light, 
now  little,  then  none  at  all.  She  is  called  the  lesser  light.  We  see 
that  that  is  true,  but  is  called  a  ^reat  light  when  compared  with  the 
stars ;  and  so  she  appears  to  every  eye.  And  in  regard  to  our  world 
it  is  certainly  true. 

It  is  far  better  for  these,  as  they  do,  to  receive  light  and  heat  from 
the  sun  for  us,  and  when  we  see  him  not,  kindly  help  us  through  the 
nighti — and  though  unseen  by  day — they  may  help  us  then  ;  as  many 
a  faithful  friend  is  thinking  of  us,  and  blessing  us,  when  we  know  it 
not ;  for  by  this  joint  action  of  the  heavenly  host  we  are  best  served. 
Even  the  fixed  stars,  it  is  said,  send  us  an  appreciable  amount  of  light 
and  heat,  whicli  make  our  nights  better  suited  for  vegetation. 

It  is  not  definitely  said  that  He  made  the  comets,  but  they  are  em- 
braced in  the  expression,  "all  things."  Ex.  20:11.  "He  made  the 
stars  also."  That  is.  He  then  gave  to  each  his  proportion  of  light  and 
heat  to  reflect  upon  us,  according  to  his  position  in  relation  to  the 
earth.  This  is  all  that  is  said,  if  one  may  so  speak,  of  the  regions 
outside  of  our  solar  system  ;  and  after  all  the  investigations  that  have 
been  made,  but  little  is  known  of  the  fixed  stars.  Yet  it  is  wonder- 
ful that  men  liave  been  able  to  do  as  much  as  they  have  in  this  field 
of  knowledge.  I  believe  they  were  created  at  the  same  time  ours  were, 
and  are  of  the  same  general  chai'acteristics.  The  bulk  of  the  bodies 
of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars  must  have  been  created  on  the  first  day, 
as  we  have  before  endeavored  to  show. 


TIfK  STORY  OF  CRKATIOX.  17. 

Reasoning  from  whal  is  said  of  the  eaiili  in  liu'  sacTed  narrative, 
we  would  suppose  that  the  pro<^ress  of  i-reation  in  them  took  a  simi- 
lar course  to  what  it  did  in  the  earth  up  to  tiie  fourtli  day.  As  chil- 
dren of  the  same  parent  have  a  j^eneral  resemhlance  to  each  other,  so 
we  would  suppose  that  all  the  material  worlds  heinj;  from  the  same 
autlior,  would  luive  the  .same  j^enerai  features;  would  have  also  like 
ex[)eriences.  If  there  is  plant  life  in  any  of  them  we  would  suppose  it 
\o  be  like  ours,  as  far  as  prevailing,'  conditions  would  permit.  And  if 
they  have  any  waters,  and  any  forms  of  animal  life  he  in  them,  we 
would  suppose  they  would  he  as  are  ours. 

I  understand  the  text  to  teach,  that  on  the  fourth  day  the  light 
which  had  heen  created  before  was  then  concentrated  in  the  body  of, 
or  around  the  sun  ;  that  he  was  then  made  self-luminous  and  the 
source  of  light,  and  of  heat,  to  all  the  rest,  unless  there  are  some  too 
remote,  and  supplied  by  other  means. 

He  is  here  called  the  greater  light,  as  compared  with  the  moon, 
elsewhere  by  tlie  inspired  writers,  the  suii  ;  made  a  great  light  on  the 
fourth  day  of  creation;  appointed  by  his  great  Master  to  rule  the  day. 
Now  qualirted  for  that  great  office  and  installed  in  it.  Authorized  to 
divide  the  day  from  the  night.  He  has,  on  account  of  his  great  office 
and  his  happy  work,  the  honor  to  be  compared  with  his  Maker,  who 
is  a  sun  of  righteousness,  to  Ughten  the  heart  and  mind  of  man,  and 
set  his  soul  aflaine  with  loving  devotion. 

At  that  time  He  made  another  great  light — the  lesser  light — called 
elsewhere  in  the  Scriptures,  the  moon.  She  was  now  qualified  for  and 
installed  in  her  beautiful  office,  as  ruler  of  the  night.  She  was 
authorized  to  dispel  all  the  darkness  she  could,  and  bless  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  earth  with  her  gentle  light. 

■  He  made  the  stars  also.  On  the  fourth  day  He  only  had  to  qualify 
them  for,  and  install  them  in  their  several  offices,  which  He  did;  and 
it  all  had  reference  to  the  earth.      "To  give  light  upon  the  earth." 

The  parallel  texts  give  much  information  on  the  subject.  Job.  88: 
32.  At  this  place  in  the  revised  vei'sion  we  have  this  marginal  read- 
ing: "The  Signs  of  the  Zodiac,"  which,  I  think,  is  correct,  for  in  the 
text  it  is:  "Mazzaroth  in  their  season."  It  is  a  common  belief  that 
the  passage  of  the  sun  through  the  twelve  signs  of  the  Zodiac  brings 
us  our  four  seasons  of  the  year — "in  their  season."  And  that  text 
which  says  they  shall  "be  for  signs,  and  for  seasons,  and  for  days, 
and  for  years,"  is  fulfilled. 

With  the  earth,  the  sun,  moon  and  stars,  they  register  the  days  and 
the  years  of  earth  ;  and  are  the  regulators  of  the  seasons  of  the  year; 
and  the  constellations  of  the  stars  have  become  the  established  twelve 
signs  of  the  Zodiac,  and  from  time  unknown  to  history,  farmers  have 
looked  to  them  for  signs  to  assist  them  in  tiieir  pursuits.  They  often 
say  to  one  another,  I  believe  in  the  moon.  With  many  it  controls 
as  to  the  best  time  to  plant  their  ilitTerent  kinds  of  crops,  and  vege- 
tables of  all  kinds — for  cutting  timber  for  boards,  rails  and  lumber, 
and  for  saving  pork  and  bacon.  And  the  influence  that  the  twelve 
signs  have  in  indicating  the  course  of  the  blood  in  the  animal  system 
is  of  especial  importance  to  stock  handlers.  I  have  myself  lost  by 
not  following  more  strictly  the  criterion  as  given  in  our  almanacs. 


]S.  THE  STORY  OF  (!REATION. 

Just  the  other  day  I  liad  the  minfortune  to  cut  a  deep  o:ash  in  my 
left  hand  while  prniiiu^  a  peach  tree.  Xoticing  that  it  bled  but  little, 
I  thoug^ht  a))out  where  the  sit^n  might  be.  I  looked  in  the  almanac ; 
it  indicated  the  heart.     Fortunate  for  me,  no  doubt,  that  it  was. 

Of  coui*se  tlie  physician  considers  where  the  sign  is  when  he  has  to 
perform  a  surgical  operation.  If  it  is  at  a  time,  as  the  farmer  would 
say,  wlien  the  sign  is  wrong,  it  may  prove  very  unfortunate. 

The  Lord  said  they  shall  be  for  signs ;  and  often  we  see  its  ttuth 
demonstrated  before  our  eyes,  and  it  is  evidence  of  the  general  truth 
of  the  Bible. 

In  the  R.  V.  we  have  tliis  reading  in  the  latter  part  of  that  verse: 
"Or  canst  Thou  guide  the  Bear  with  her  train."  That  is  the  constel- 
lation called  the  Bear  near  the  north  pole;  ancuently  called  Arcturus. 
By  s()n)e  authors  called  Major  Ursa — the  great  Bear,  and  another  one 
called  Minor  Ursa — the  little  Bear.  The  text  may  include,  perhaps, 
both  of  them.  Her  train  means  all  the  stars  in  tliat  division  of  the 
Zodiac,  in  the  authorized  version  called,  "Arcturus  with  his  sons," 
having  reference,  in  sublime  diction,  to  all  the  stars  in  that  sign  of 
the  Zodiac. 

And  .fob  88  >n,  R.  V. :  "Canst  Thou  bind  the  Cluster  of  Pleiades, 
or  loose  the  bands  of  Orion?"  These  are  two  separate  constellations 
of  stars  in  the  Zodiac.  Hei'e  is  especial  mention  of  four,  or  at  least 
three  of  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac.  And  in  Job.  9:9,  R.  V.,  "Which 
maketh  the  Bear,  Orion  and  the  Pleiades,  and  the  Chambers  of  the 
south."  The  Chambers  of  the  south  mean  the  signs  or  constellations 
in  the  Southern  hemisphere  of  the  Zodiac.  The  Bear  is  north  and  the 
other  two  equinoctial ;  so  doubtless  tlie  text  is  intended  to  embrace 
the  whole  circle. 

Amos  5  :8,  "Seek  Him  that  maketh  the  seven  stars,  R.  V.  Pleiades 
and  Orion;  the  Lord  is  His  name."  "Which  giveth  the  sun  for  a 
light  by  day  and  the  moon  and  stars  for  a  light  by  night.  The  Lord 
of  hosts  is  His  name."  Jer.  81  :85.  "He  telleth  the  number  of  the 
stars;  He  calleth  them  all  by  their  names."  Ps.  107:-!:,  R.  V.  He 
telleth  the  number  of  the  stars;  He  giveth  all  their  names,  uni-e- 
vealed  to  us.  Astronomers  have  never  learned  them,  but  they  are 
known  in  Heaven.  They  are  His  possessions — His  servants — perhaps 
report  to  His  throne  every  day. 

Job  88:31.  The  Lord  here  speaks  of  "the  sweet  influences  of  Plei- 
ades." It  may  mean  that  Constellation;  or,  as  the  ancients  do  not 
seem  to  have  known  but  seven  planets,  it  may  allude  to  them ;  or,  as 
those  four  constellations  mentioned  specifically  in  the  Scriptures  have 
each  seven  principal  stars,  it  may  put  the  number  seven  for  the  whole 
starry  host.  It  may,  however,  mean  that  as  the  sun  enters  that  sign 
in  April,  which  is  the  principal  month  for  the  flowers  to  bloom,  that 
the  stars  help  to  impart  sweetness  to  them. 

If  so,  then  when  the  time  of  ripening  comes,  the  sign  where  the  sun 
would  be  would  help  to  impart  sweetness  to  the  fruit.  As  the  Lord 
speaks  of  their  sweet  influences  they  must  have  something  to  do  with 
the  sweetness  of  earth's  bloom  and  fruit,  of  our  grain,  vegetables, 
melons,  sugar  cane,  and  everything  that  is  sweet,  in  the  bloom  and 
in  the  matured  fruit  of  everv  kind. 


'I'HK  S'POIiV   OK  CKKATIOX.  19. 

It  takes  t  he  joint  iiiHueiice  of  t  lie  sun,  moon  and  all  t  he  stars,  with 
the  earth,  to  prodiiee  the  results  that  the  Loi'd  wauled  jarodueed — the 
results  which  are  prodiieed.  A  proof  of  it  is  that  the  honey -dew  forms 
at  uight.  And  how  sweet  the  flowers  in  the  opeuinu;  morn  I  See  how 
fresh  in  the  morninj,'  are  the  morniui,'  glories;  takinj;  iu  sweetness 
throiiijh  the  ui<i-ht  while  we  slept — so  did  all  the  iioweriuj;  host — to 
bless  us,  if  we  think  enouij^h  of  them  when  we  pass  to  stop  and  look 
at  them,  and  take  time  for  their  fragrance  to  regale  us. 

As  the  strong  hands  of  the  men  do  the  harder  work,  leaving  the 
lighter  for  the  children,  and  tlie  delicate  for  the  women,  so  the  sun 
W'ith  his  great  power  does  that  through  the  day  for  us  which  none 
other  can  do,  and  the  stars  at  night  do  for  as  a  lighter  work,  which 
the  sun  could  not  do,  and  the  moon,  as  with  delicate  hands,  puts  on 
the  finishing  touches. 

>«'or  did  the  sweet  manna  ever  come  by  day,  but  at  night,  while 
Israel  slept.  So  it  takes  them  all  in  concert  with  the  earth  to  do  the 
perfect  work  the  Lord  wants  done.  And  just  think,  it  is  all  done  for 
us.  Let  us  thank  Him  for  it — well  and  good.  For  it  is  the  Lord  that 
leadeth  forth  the  ]\laz/aroth  in  their  season,  blessing  all  as  they  go. 
Yet,  no  doubt  their  happiest  effects  have  oft  been  interrupted  as  a 
chastisen)ent  for  the  sins  of  mankind. 

When  you  consider  the  great  forces  in  all  nature,  which  the  Bible 
teaches  are  in  operation  for  the  benefit  of  the  earth,  you  may  think 
that  the  output  does  not  justify  the  outlay  of  means.  Ps.  8:8-8,  "but 
"the  Lord  seeth  not  as  man  seeth."  1  8am.,  16:7.  Some  of  the  mine 
owners  in  upper  Georgia  took  Bob  Toombs  once,  when  on  a  visit  in 
their  country,  to  see  the  vast  works  that  were  going  on  to  separate 
tlie  gold  from  the  ore.  After  showing  iiim  the  whole  process,  and  the 
mei'chantable  dust  produced,  they  asked  him  what  he  thought  of  it. 
He  said  :  "I  think  it  takes  six  dollars  to  get  one.''  That  is  about  the 
way  some  wi'iters  seem  to  tliink  of  what  tlie  Bible  teaches  as  to  the 
interest  the  Lord  takes  in  the  earth,  but  Mr.  Toombs'  opinion  did  not 
stop  a  single  man  of  them  from  operating  his  mine.  They  had  liad 
experience,  he  had  not. 

On  the  fourth  day  He  gave  them  those  qualities  and  installed  them 
in  those  offices  that  have  ever  since,  by  consent  of  all,  constituted 
them  sun,  moon  and  stars.  And  He,  Himself,  first  gave  them  those 
names,  which  He  had  a  perfect  right  to  do,  for  he  was  the  first  of  all 
astronomers. 

The  Script  ures  everywhere  ascribe  the  creation  of  them  all  to  the 
Lord,  with  a  most  happy  posit iveness, as  any  one  can  see  by  consult- 
ing the  parallel  passages  on  these  subjects.  Yea,  the  same  voice  that 
in  superb  grandeur  said  at  first,  "Let  there  be  light,"  now  said,  "Let 
there  be  lights  in  the  firmament,  and  it  was  so."  And  for  this  jiur- 
pose :      "To  give  light  upoti  the  earth. 

If  the  moon  and  the  stars  shine  tlirough  the  night,  they  shine  just 
as  much  in  the  day,  but  are  invisible  to  us  on  account  of  the  -mn's 
superior  light.  Their  light  is  lost  in  the  sun's  lij^^t;  but  their  night- 
ly quota  of  light  is  added  in  the  day  to  the  light  of  the  sun.  So  is  the 
amount  of  heat  they  give  off  in  the  night  in  the  same  ratio  given  off 
in  the  dav.  blended  with  the  heat  of  the  sun.     It   may  be  that    they 


20.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

assist  the  sitn  more,  farther  from  the  tropics  in  warming  the  earth 
than  at  them;  or,  at  least,  would  be  more  appreciated.  And  the 
moon,  when  she  appears  to  turn  her  back  on  lis,  like  a  real  queen, 
her  face  is  on  her  other  possessions.  So  the  sun,  moon  and  stars 
are  always  on  duty  for  us,  serving  mankind  the  whole  earth  around. 
They  have  never  j^et  been  relieved  by  a  fresh  set.  Let  us  be  tliankful 
for  them.  Not  like  the  heathen,  though — woi-ship  tliem  instead  of 
the  Creator  Himself,  wlio  made  thein  and  tlieir  ordinances  for  our 
happiness,     .fer.  HI  :J}5. 

Some  miglit  think  there  would  be  light  whether  there  is  lieat  or 
not;  but  we  see  tliat  tlie  heat  we  liave  from  the  sun  comes  along  with 
liis  light.  And  the  more  powerful  the  light,  the  greater  is  also  the 
heat.  In  the  distant  regions  of  the  north,  where  the  heat  is  less,  the 
light  is  less  too.  Hence  the  sobriquet,  "Sunny  South."  In  all  warm 
countries  the  light  is  clearer  tlian  in  cold  ones.  So  in  that  first  sys- 
tem of  light  there  must  Iiave  been  warmth  along  with  it  everywhere 
the  light  went. 

^\']letiler  the  planets  have  any  bodies  of  water  on  them  or  not,  they 
must  have  that  on  the  most  of  them  that  is  close  akin  to  water.  They 
could  not  have  atmospheres  without  moisture  sufficient  to  support 
them.  The  moons  of  those  that  have  them,  and  the  rings  of  Saturn, 
are  supposed  to  supply  them  Avith  both  light  and  heat,  more  than  they 
otherwise  would  have.  So,  on  the  same  principle,  all  the  starry  host, 
as  well  as  moon  and  sun,  help  the  earth  in  light  and  lieat,  and  in  all 
of  happy  nature's  work  done  on  her. 

If  the  fixed  stars  were  not  created  in  that  beginning  mentioned  in 
the  book  of  Oenesis,  then  we  have  no  account  of  their  creation  ;  for 
outside  of  the  Bible  we  have  no  knowledge  of  Creation,  nor  can  we. 
And  even  with  the  Bible,  its  vastness  ovenvhelms  our  mightiest 
thought. 

If  there  are  other  solar  systems  in  this  great  universe — which  no 
man  knows — having  the  knowledge  that  we  have  of  ours,  we  can 
form  some  idea  of  them  by  analogy.  For  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  they  would  have  the  same  general  characteristics  as  ours. 

Whether  the  days  in  (Creation  were  the  natural  days  of  the  eai'th, 
or  long  periods  of  time,  there  could  have  been  no  glacial  period  until 
considerable  time  after  the  fourth  day.  Under  the  fii'st  system  for 
light,  be  that  system  whatever  it  was,  no  ice  could  form  on  land  or 
water,  anywhere  on  earth,  for  her  temperature  would  be  equal  all 
over  her  surface.  But  when  the  sun  was  made  self-luminous  and  the 
solar  system  had  to  depend  upon  Him  for  light  and  the  earth's  sur- 
face for  heat,  a  new  order  of  things  set  in.  And  as  a  matter  of  course, 
it  would  take  a  number  of  years,  perhaps,  for  the  zones  of  earth  to 
become  fixed.  And  of  course  the  glacial  period  would  be  obliged  to  be 
a  long  ways  future  of  that  event;  for  take  the  progress  of  polar  con- 
ditions within  the  history  of  man's  knowledge  of  them,  and  analog.y 
will  show  that  a  glacial  period  could  not  have  been  any  wliere  near  the 
temperate  zones  tqf  a  long  course  of  time  after  the  fourth  day  of 
Creation.  It  could  not  be  before  the  zones  of  earth  became  estab- 
lished, and  that  was  future  from  the  fourtli  day  of  Creation.  If  the 
Lord  permits,  I  will  show  farther  on  when  I  think  tliat  period  was. 


THY.  STORY  OF  (rKKATIOX.  21. 

The  li^-ht  boing  centered  in,  or  around,  the  sun,  cliilliness  began  to 
Heize  upon  the  poles  of  the  earth,  and  increased  more  and  more,  until 
they  were  held  in  fold's  icy  grip.  And  lieat  accumulated  all  around 
the  centre  of  tlie  earth  and  radiaterl  more  and  more  toward  tlie  poles, 
until  repelled  by  the  Arctic  cold.  Thus  the  zones  of  earth  were 
formed  and  settled.  There  was  no  such  tiling  as  a  zone  before  this. 
Equal  liglit  and  equal  heat  prevailed  everywhere,  all  around  the  earth 
and  all  over  her  surface.  The  temperature  being  equal  everywhere, 
all  parts  were  equally  comfortable.  Day  and  night  were  of  equal 
length  all  over  the  earth  and  divided  one  from  the  other  by  other 
means  than  the  sun  by  day  and  tlie  shadow  of  the  earth  by  night. 

How  long  this  conflict  between  the  equatorial  heat  and  the  polar 
cold  went  on  before  the  limits  of  the  zones  were  established  we  have 
no  record  in  Revelation,  nor  other  data  on  the  subject.  Of  course  the 
approach  of  each  towards  the  other  would  be  gradual.  And  each,  so 
to  speak,  finding  a  natural  barrier  to  its  progress,  would  apparently 
become  content  and  settle  down  upon  its  own  rights. 

It  is  probable  that  more  of  the  earth's  surface  is  under  temperate 
conditions  than  forinerly.  And  it  is  probable  that  the  temperate  zones 
will  yet  gain  more  against  the  frigid  than  otherwise. 

On  the  foiu'th  day  of  Creation  the  laws  of  the  zones  were  planted  in 
the  natural  world,  and  have  since  been  working  out  their  legitimate 
results,  though  not  without  the  guiding  hand  of  His  providence,  as 
in  all  things  else.  Ever  since  that  day,  sun,  moon  and  stars  have 
been  "for  signs,  and  for  seasons,  and  for  days,  and  for  years."  With 
the  earth  they  mark  the  days  and  the  years  with  a  precision  that  no 
man  can  equal,  bringing  spring,  summer,  autumn  and  winter,  in 
their  seasons. 

How  much  they  have  to  do  with  the  condition  of  our  weather  in  all 
seasons  we  cannot  tell;  but  very  much,  no  doubt.  The  premonitory 
signs  they  give,  are  worthy  of  our  study  and  of  our  observation. 

It  was  so  arranged  by  the  Creator  that  the  passing  of  the  sun's  rays 
through  our  atmosphere  and  their  refraction  upon  the  earth  should 
produce  heat  on  her  surface  and  a  gentle  warmth  below  her  surface 
sufficient  for  all  her  productions.  So  the  sun's  light  and  his  heat  are 
necessary  to  fructify  the  earth,  as  well  as  for  our  personal  comfort. 
And  it  is  the  ett'ect  of  his  light  that  paints  the  flowers,  insects,  birds 
and  other  animals,  in  their  various  hues  and  colors,  and  even  man- 
kind in  their  different  shades  of  complexion. 

This  was  His  permanent  plan  for  the  light,  and  for  the  heat  in  their 
offices,  and  in  their  powers,  and  in  their  uses  in  the  natural  world. 
"And  it  was  so."  Unalterably  fixed,  all.  "And  God  saw  that  it  was 
good."'  The  whole  and  every  part  di'ew  forth  the  happy  expression 
of  Divine  approA'al.  "And  the  eveniiig  anfl  the  morning  were  the 
fourtli  day." 

This  day's  work  was  very  far  off  from  the  eartli.  In  the  distant 
and  far  away  regions  of  space.  But  all  aroiind  the  earth  alike,  and 
for  the  mutual  good  of  the  whole  system  of  things  connected  with  her. 

It  added  great  beauty  and  grandeur  to  our  solar  system,  affords 
much  pleasure  to  mankind,  and  is  calculated  to  inspire  them  with  a  very 
high  sense  of  reverence  f(n-  the  (!reator.    In  grandeur,  sublimity,  line- 


22.  THE  STOEY  OF  dUKATTOX. 

ness  and  superiority  of  work  it  was  overwhelmingly  a  great  day's 
work,  every  way  worthy  of  the  Supreme  Being. 

Light  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  complex  subjects  in  all  nature,  and 
to  make  the  intinitely  wise  distribution  of  it,  as  He  did  on  this  day, 
exceeds  all  our  thought,  and  tills  us  with  praise  to  that  perfect  wis- 
dom that  held  His  permanent  plan  for  it  in  resei've  until  this  supreme 
moinent  and  then  so  splendidly  executed  it  in  its  wonderful  perfection. 

What  nicety  and  painstaking  of  skill  and  delicate  adjustment  of  all 
the  particulars  in  regard  to  the  sun's  natiu-e,  laws  and  offices  I  And 
of  all  the  grand  orbs  connected  with  him  to  produce  such  admiral)le 
results  as  have  followed  from  tliat  day  to  this  no  living  man  can  tell  I 
It  was  a  great  day's  work!  But  don't  let  us  think  that  Almighty 
power  and  infinite  wisdom  needed  any  more  time  for  its  pe'rfect 
accomplishment  than  His  own  statement  allows  Him. 

Astronomy  teaches  that  the  nearest  fixed  star  is  so  remote  from  us  if 
we  span  the  whole  space  of  the  ecliptic,  one  hundred  and  ninety  mil- 
lions of  miles,  to  view  it,  it  appears  no  nearer  nor  larger  than  if  we 
were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  earth's  orbit.  So  this  day's  work  is 
so  great  that  if  we  suppose  that  it  was  in  progress  full  a  thousand 
years  and  more,  it  no  more  brings  it  down  to  our  natural  understand- 
ing than  to  suppose  it  was  only  from  one  sunset  to  the  next. 

It  was  all  miraculous,  as  were  all  the  rest ;  and  without  a  miracle 
was  not  anything  made  that  was  made. 

O,  glorious  fourth  day, 

That  saw  the  Universal  light, 

Desert,  like  a  rising  fawn. 

Her  former  places  of  abode, 

As  in  great  waving  sheets. 

Broader,  by  far,  than  any  hemisphere. 

Rolling  through  space,  as  on  rapid  wing. 

Encircling  the  sun  seven  fold  ! 

Bounding  thence  encircled  the  moon  ai^d  every  star; 

Nor  did  a  comet  nor  asteroid  fail  of  its  share  I 

And  thou  wert  the  first  to  see  the  king  of  day, 

Arching  the  skies  on  his  sliining  way. 

And  wlien  beyond  the  circle  of  thy  light 

To  feast  thine  eyes  on  the  beauty  bright, 

Of  that  radiant  retinue  of  tlie  night. 

Which  followed  as  his  brilliant  ti-ain  ! 

And,  too,  thou  wast  the  first. to  see. 

The  whole  span  of  heaven  bestud, 

As  with  countless,  sparkling  gems. 

Who!      WJiat  hand,  did  all  these  seeming  fires  alight? 

Was  it  nature?     Nay, 

Her  author — thy  Creator  didst  it. 

O,  fourth  of  days,  happy  wast  thou. 

And  luippy  wast  thy  work, 

The  crowning  of  all  nature  inanimate! 

Truly  henceforth  they  who  know  thee  best, 

Shall  call  Ihee  blest;' 


TlIK  STORY  OF  CRKA'riOX. 

For  from  tliy  work  have  we  the  lastiiii^  order. 

Of  the  clay  and  of  tlie  niii;lit  ;   and  the  zones  of  eartli, 

With  all  their  beauties  and  their  sweets. 

As  after  hardest  toil  comes  sweetest  rest , 

So  from  thee  we  have  the  beauteous  snow. 

Winter's  frost  and  pretty  ice, 

Sprinj^'s  bloom  and  fragrance, 

Summer's  perfect  beauty, 

And  autumn's  sumptuous  good. 


(CHAPTER  V. 

FIFTH  DAY'S  WORK. 

We  have  seen  that  the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the  waters  on  the 
fii'st  day ;  and  now  He  makes  a  second  movement  upon  them  to  bring 
them  into  a  generative  state  for  the  purpose  of  Creation,  and  to  be 
able  to  ever  after  sustain  that  life  He  intended  to  put  into  the  waters. 
The  life  that  is  in  all  waters,  both  salt  and  fresh. 

On  the  fourth  day  the  waters  were  relieved  of  that  exceeding  brill- 
iancy which  He  gave  them  on  the  first  day,  by  moving  the  centre  of 
light  to  the  sun — making  him  self  luminous,  and  the  source  of  light 
to  all  the  rest  of  nature  connected  with  him. 

As  yet  the  waters  were  not  at  all  suited  to  any  form  of  life — not 
even  were  they  .suitable  for  vegetable  life.  They  were  too  pure  for  it. 
It  lias  been  said  of  late  that  entirely  pure  water  is  not  suited  for 
human  life.  Since  the  fifth  day  of  Creation  the  natural  waters  have 
not  been  entirely  pure. 

Up  to  the  fifth  day  the  Creator  supplied  the  vegetation  of  the  earth 
with  moisture  by  inists,  a  part  of  His  teinporary  arrangement.  Nor 
as  yet  had  there  been  any  rain.  (len.  2  Si-G.  There  was  no  rain  until 
after  the  sun  was  made  the  source  of  light  and  of  heat.  No  doubt  as 
we  say,  when  the  sun  rose  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  he  sent 
before  him  chariots  of  rolling  vapors,  which  made  all  nature  gTeethim 
in  his  new  official  relations  to  her  with  thankfulness;  and  with  one 
consent  all  of  her  children  crowned  him  king  of  the  day. 

In  the  cast  of  the  earth  it  was  about  the  beginning  of  the  morning 
when  his  great  Master  got  him  in  readiness  to  come  forth,  for  the  first 
time,  "as  a  bridegroom  out  of  liis  chamber,"  Ps.  19  ;4-6,  groomed  to 
escort  the  queen  of  the  night  in  their  celestial  journeys;  with 
knighted  retinue  attending — in  their  first  and  lasting  tours — describ- 
ing the  circle  of  the  skies. 

It  seems  that  the  waters  underwent  a  change  on  the  first  day  for 
the  emission  of  light,  and  on  the  fifth  to  that  permanent  condition  it 
has  since  had.  Now  these  were  very  great  acts;  but  He  who  created 
on  the  beginning  of  the  first  day  all  the  water,  with  all  other  elements 
that  belong  to  matter,  except  light — as  is  there  mentioned — could  do 
it  just  as  easy  as  He  created  it  at  first.  And  it  is  agreeable  to  the 
successive  steps  He  took  in  the  work  of  all  Creation.  It  seems  that 
the  water  radiated  light  for  all  earthly  purposes  until  the  foiu-th  day. 
St.  .John  speaks  of  a  sea  of  glass.  Rev.  15:2.    That    refers  to  its  brill- 


24..  THE  STORY  OF  CREATIOX. 

iancy.  In  that  state  the  water  does  not  need  life  sustaining  proper- 
ties, Rev.  22:1.  Here  he  says:  '"The  water  of  the  river  of  life  is  as 
clear  as  crystal." 

Mortals,  nor  material  creatures,  if  immortal,  could  not  live  on  such 
pure  water.  If  it  means  grace,  or  salvation  in  this  life,  then  it  refers 
to  its  absolute  jDurity  from  all  those  ingredients  that  are  found  in  real 
water  to  adapt  it  to  our  present  state  in  this  world ;  that  being  only 
figuratively  called  water,  meaning  Spiritual  blessedness. 

The  Spirit  must  have  now  wrought  upon  the  waters — upon  all 
bodies  of  water;  formed  in  them  those  ingredients  necessary  to  sup- 
port both  vegetable  and  animal  life ;  for  those  that  should  live  in 
water  and  those  that  should  live  on  land — adapting  it  to  all  their 
purposes. 

For  up  to  this  time  there  was  no  life  sustaining  property  in  any 
water.  The  plant  life  on  the  "dry  land"  was  supported  by  the  earth 
and  the  mists  sent  them  through  the  atmosphere.  If  there  had  been 
a  living  creature  on  the  earth  before  the  fifth  day,  there  would  not 
have  been  any  water  tit  for  him,  or  it,  to  drink.  There  is  something 
in  water  peculiai'ly  suited  to  our  natures;  and  to  everything  thatliv- 
eth  in  this  world.  For  we  may  think  its  place  can  be  supplied  by 
milk,  fruits  and  juices  of  plants,  yet  still  we  thirst,  which  is  nature's 
call  for  water. 

The  soul  of  the  unfortunate  rich  man  in  hell  wanted  it;  or  that 
which  corresponds  to  it,  Luke  16:19-31,  but  could  not  obtain  it.  There 
was  a  plenty  of  it — or  that  which  answers  to  it — where  Lazarus  was, 
but  he  could  not  cross  over  the  great  gulf  to  'get  it,  nor  could  he  get 
Lazarus  to  bring  him  any ;  neither  could  he  persuade  the  great 
patriarch  to  send  him  any  by  Lazarus.  That  was  the  first  prayer 
offered  to  a  saint,  and  like  all  the  rest,  it  went  unanswered  and 
un  blest. 

The  Lord  did  not  create  anything  that  had  need  without  first  pro- 
viding for  that  need.  Hence  He  prepared  the  waters  to  s\istain  the 
life  of  the  living  creatures  which  He  intended  to  inhabit  the  waters 
before  he  brought  them  forth.  And  he  provided  for  the  need  of  every 
thing  on  land,  and  for  every  thing  in  the  air,  in  the  peculiar  abode  of 
every  one  for  them,  before  they  came.  By  the  fifth  day  the  earth 
was  ready  for  the  living  creatures,  when  God  caused  the  birds  to  begin 
to  fiy  over  it  and  to  rest  foot  upon  it ;  and  not  before. 

By  the  agency  of  the  Spirit  of  (rod,  for  the  time  being,  the  waters 
were  given  generative  powers  to  answer  the  purposes  of  Creation. 
"Thou  sendeth  forth  Thy  Spirit,  they  are  created."  Ps.  104:80.  Much 
of  it  is  here  ascribed  to  the  Spirit. 

At  this  supreme  mOment  the  Son  of  Grod  gave  orders  to  the  waters 
to  bring  forth  that  life  which  in  them  was — and  was  now  ready  for 
deliverance — in  living,  organized  being.  Gen.  1:20.  You  may  think 
we  strain  the  text,  nevertheless,  it  teaches  that  water  was  the  ele- 
ment out  of  which  these  were  created. 

They  came  forth  as  if  ushering  out  of  the  great- womb  of  all  waters. 
It  was  a  grand  scene  !'  Greater  than  Daniel's  natural  scenes  upon  the 
Hiddekel,  or  St.  John's  iipon  the  Mediteranean.  To  see  them  in  the 
water,  wiggling,   swimming,    sporting  too,   on   the   surface,    and   the 


TIIK  S'I'ORY  OF  (^KKA'IMOX.  *  2."). 

pretty  lisli  try i Hi,'  their  newly  found  powers  ititlie  walfr!  It  wh5 
truly  iiiterestinji'. 

For  the  waters  tlien  l)r()U,:^lit  forth  the  moviiii^  creatures  that  crawl 
upon  the  l)ottoin  of  the  deep,  which  cannot  swim,  but  must  live  in, 
or  ahoul  the  water.  Water  insects  and  creatures  of  lower  order  than 
lisli,  of  ijreat  beauty,  ajid  in  "[real  variety ;  and  fish  of  nuiiiy  colors, 
and  of  ijreat  beauty — of  countless  form  and  variety  ;LeviaMian,  Behe- 
moth and  all  the  monsters  of  the  deep.  The  great  ones  of  old — tlie 
giants  of  the  sea.  Science  does  not  find  them  ;  neither  does  she  find 
giants  among  men  now.  It  seems  that  tlie  Lord  got  tired  of  them 
both  in  the  old  world  and  left  them  behind  in  the  time  of  the  flood. 
Neither  did  He  save  a  giant  man  nor  nuistodon  beast.  It  is  true, 
however,  that  after  this  we  read  of  some  giants  in  Canaan,  on  a 
smaller  scale  than  those  of  old  ;  l)ut  I  hey  had  to  give  place  to  a  better 
race. 

The  command  to  the  waters  to  bring  forth  the  living  creature  was 
not  only  so  broad  as  to  embrace  all  bodies  of  water  on  the  earth,  but 
in  all  other  spheres  also.  If  tliere  are  any  living  creatures  in  the 
waters  of  other  globes  I  would  suppose  that  they  were  created  in  obe- 
dience to  this  command.  If  it  is  for  the  glory  of  the  Creator  for  all 
those  we  see  no  other  use  for,  to  be  in  our  waters,  it  would  be  so 
there.  And  if  it  were  but  a  natural  consequence,  then  tlieir  waters 
would  be  occupied  as  are  ours,  if  the  conditions  are  the  same.  But 
the  command  to  the  earth  to  bring  forth  "the  living  creature"  was 
specific  to  the  earth.  The  sun,  nor  moon,  nor  stars,  are  mentioned 
or  implied,  in  it,  and  the  creation  of  man  was  a  local  matter,  limited 
to  a  single  spot  of  earth.  .  It  was  sui  generis. 

More  wonderful,  the  Lord  gave  the  waters  ])ower  to  generate  winged 
creatures — flying  fowls — sea  birds — of  many  varieties,  swans,  cranes, 
duck.si,  wild  geese,  all  of  which  live  in  or  about  the  water.  I 
reckon  there  was  a  greater  cackling  then  than  was  ever  heard  on  a 
F'lorida  lake. 

And  more  wonderful  still.  He  gave  the  water  not  only  power  to 
bring  forth  such  a.s  inhabit  the  waters,  but  also  those  that  occupy  the 
dry  land,  and  fly  over  the  earth.  Then  out  of  the  water  the  Lord 
created  every  land  bird  after  his  kind,  with  almost  inflnite  variety  of 
sizes,  forms,  hues,  colors,  and  of  exquisite  beauty,  from  the  eagle  1o 
the  humming  bird. 

Oh,  it  was  a  lovely  scene  I  It  would  have  nuule  every  fiber  in  your 
mental  nature  vibrate  with  happy  emotion  to  look  upon  it.  In  their 
flrst  taste  of  life — and  they  all  at  once  adull — gave  them  a  fullness  of 
pleasure  not  experienced  l)y  any  of  their  kind  since.  No  merry  birds, 
therefore,  can  be  so  joyous  now. 

Then  were  brought  forth  also  those  of  gentler  natures,  chickens, 
guineas,  turkeys,  peafowls,  domestic  ducks  and  geese,  with  all  the 
varieties  of  each.  However,  He  does  not  inform  us  whether  their 
almost  endless  variety,  on  land  and  on  ^ea,  were  created  then,  or  only 
their  species,  or,  even  only  their  genera  were  then  made. 

Some  may  think  the  birds,  especially  those  that  live  on  land,  were 
not  created  in  that  w^ay.  But  it  is  a  singular  fact  tliat  they  are  in- 
cluded in  the  flfth  day's  work,    rather    than  after  the  inferior  crea- 


215.  THE  STOKV   OF  (IRKATION. 

tares  made  on  the  sixth  day.  The  PHalmisti  says,  "Thou  laketh  away 
their  breatli,  tliey  die,  and  return  to  their  dust,''  l(l4::29.  Altliough 
they  were  created  out  of  tlie  water,  tliey  are  indebted  to  the  earth  for 
those  bodies  they  have  since  had,  and  return  after  death  to  the  bulk 
of  earthly  matter. 

"Thou  sendeth  forth  Thy  Spirit,  they  are  credited."  It  implies  that 
in  the  sense  of  reproduction  Creation  is  going  on  ever,  but  He  does 
not  say  these  are  higher  than  those.  And  it  agrees  with  another 
Scripture  which  says:  "For  They  are  and  were  created,"  Rev.  4:11. 
It  is  in  this  secondary  sense  that  we  all  are  His  creatures.  He  does 
not  inform  us  whether  He  has  made  any  new  species  since,  or  not. 
He  certainly  had  the  right  to  do  so  if  He  wished,  or  saw  tit.  "We 
dare  not  limit  Him,"  Ps.  78  :■!. 

If  He  has  made  any  new  species  or  genus,  it  must  have  been  out  of 
the  originals :  for  they  must  have  been  embraced  in  the  expression, 
"all  things,"  Ex.  20:11,  Ps.  104:30,.  may  mean,  as  we  see,  that  one 
generation  passes  away  and  is  succeeded  by  another  of  the  same 
kind,  Eel.  1 :4,  For  every  generation  is  His  creation.  So  in  that 
sense  His  creation,  or  His  making,  at  least,  is  always  going  on.  He 
is  the  Creator,  or,  at  least,  the  maker  of  the  last,  as  well  .as  of  the 
first. 

Joseph  Cook  says,  "God  sends  first  the  human  soul  into  this  world 
and  it  weaves  its  own  body."  Of  course  that  body  is  builded  out  of 
all  the  elements  of  earth ;  nor  is  that  work  carried  on  without  the 
guiding  hand  of  His  Providence,  which  fashioneth  all.  So  He  is  the 
Father  of  our  spirits  and  the  maker  of  our  frames.  For  His  offspring 
we  are,  Acts  17  :28. 

"And  God  created  great  whales,  and  every  living  creature  that 
moveth,  which  the  waters  brought  forth  abundantly  after  their  kind, 
and  every  winged  fowl  after  his  kind."  I  understand  that  they  were 
as  if  grown  to-maturity.  When  man,  or  any  animal,  is  now  brought 
into  this  world  they  come  prepared  to  fill  their  .place  in  this  world, 
taking  their  train  of  conditions  as  they  come.  So  these  came  into  this 
world  in  an  adult  state,  or  else  soon  came  to  it  miraculously,  for  they 
were  to  be  a  generation  of  parents — were  created  capable  of  parent- 
age ;  the  language  implies  it. 

"And  God  saw^  that  it  was  good."  Good!  Good!  Well  done! 
"And  God  blessed  them,  saying,  be  fruitful  and  multiply,  and  fill  the 
waters  in  the  sea ;  and  let  fowl  multiplj^  in  the  earth."  And  His 
blessing  has  gone  with  them  ever  since — His  care  has  ever  been  over 
them — His  hand  ever  open  to  supply  their  needs,  Ps.  104:27-28.  "The 
Lord  is  good  to  all,  and  His  tender  mercies  are  over  all  His  works,"' 
Ps.  145:9. 

How  strange  it  is  that  such  a  host,  of  almost  innumerable  beings 
have  commingled  together  so  long,  and  each  genus  and  each  species 
preserved  in  its  own  individuality.  Naught  but  infinite  wisdom  and 
Almighty  power  could  have  done  it.  And  that  too,  while  dwelling 
together  in  the  same  Waters,  or  in  the  same  jungles,  and  in 
the  same  fields.  He  has  prevented  any  natural  crossing  of  genera  or 
of  species!  Instinct  must  have  been,  and  still  is,  controlled  in  this 
respect,  at  least,  by  Providence.     Men  have  sometimes  had  them  to 


I'liK  s'i'oin'  OF  ("i;i:ai"I().\.  27. 

cross;  l)iil  of  tlicii'  own  luiliiri',  never.  Mnn  iiuiy  .l<'\eio|)  v:iriety 
in  Sju'cies,  hnl  it  is  li.'inl  lo  cliiint^e  llu^  species.  It  has  nol  heen 
known  to  lie  (Imie  i)erni;inent  l.v.  It  is  said  that  whiMi  man  cejiscs  to 
interfere  willi  llieni  they  invariably  -^'o  liack  to  Uieir  ow.n  specie^. 

h\  spite  <»f  all  man's  cateliiny  an(i  (lest  royint;.  tll<\^'  liav(^  ^i'onc  forth 
unto  this  day  filliu}?  tlieir  Divine  coinniission.  And  i  heii- (illin;>-  tiie 
waters,  and  spreading-  over  the  land,  ;is  tiiey  liave  done  and  coiisuni- 
in^'  noxious,  decayiuji'  matter,  convert  in>;'  it  into  herJlliy  life,  is  of 
unspeakable  advantage  to  us,  if  we  never  ea.l  a  fish  or  bii-d. 

And  how  recreative  to  tired  human  nature  to  interest  itself  in  the 
pretty,  sj)ortive,  happy  fish.  And  when  depressed  witii  life's  ndsfoi-- 
tunes,  to  hear  the  bold  strokes  of  the  brave  birds  in  their  chetM-ful 
sons^-s.  Especially  in  the  sprinj;-  time,  how  inspirin,ij:  it  is  to  the  youth- 
ful spirit  to  hear  the  sweet  songs  of  tlie  happy  birds!  It  never  faih 
to  promote  love  in  the  human  lieart.  Canticles  2  :12.  The  wis(\st  (tf 
men  here  tacitly  admityit. 

The  tish  and  the  birds  render  us  good  service,  and  we  would  do  well 
to  appreciate  them.  They  were  made  in  part  for  our  pleasure,  for  us 
to  behold  the  beauty  alike  of  both,  and  to  listen  to  the  singing  of  tlie 
birds.  If  rightly  considered,  they  will  enhance  our  thankfulness 
to  the  Giver  of  all ;  and  therein  they,  in  part  at  least,  fulfill  their 
Maker's  will. 

"And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the  fifth  day.""  This  day's 
work  .seems  to  be  more  closely  related  to  the  coming  heir — man — for 
whom  the  great  Parent  was  preparing. 

If  we  consider  the  almost  endle.^s  variety  of  living  creatures,  both 
small  and  great,  in  all  waters  and  in  all  lands — of  birds  domestic  and 
birds  non  domestic — birds  that  swim  and  birds  that  don't  swim  ;  birds 
that  hop  and  birds  that  walk;  birds  thai  Hy  and  birds  that  don't  fly  ; 
birds  that  scratch  and  birds  that  peck  ;  birds  that  sing  and  l)irds  that 
don't  sing;  birds  that  are  pretty  and  birds  that  are  ugly^;  birds  that 
are  good  and  birds  that  are  bad ;  and  last  of  all,  birds  of  good  luck 
and  birds  of  bad  luck,  with  all  the  I^eauties  and  all  the  powers  of 
each;  then  we  will  think  it  was  a  wonderful  day's  work  I  VVorthy  of 
the  Almighty ! 

Then  let  us  think  again  this  great  host  of  life  had  lobe  fed!  But 
their  infinite  (Creator  had  an  exhaustless  storehouse  filled  for  them. 
He  had  an  eye  to  this  on  the  third  day  under  His  temporary  system 
and  how  much  the  sunshine  on  the  remainder  of  the  fourth  after  His 
installation  may  have  helped,  and  on  that  part  of  the  fifth  up  to  this 
time,  in  mgre  ripening  the  grain  and  fi'uit  w'e  can  only  conjecture. 

But  this  is  true  when  the  animals  were  produced  in  the  water  and 
the  birds  in  water  and  on  land  on  the  fifth  day,  there  was  enough  of 
it  that  was  matured  for  all  their-  needs.  And  for  man  on  the  sixth 
day.  We  have  no  ripe  seed  for  reproduction  without  ripe  fruit.  So 
some  of  it  must  have  been  ripe  on  the  third  day ;  as  the  Lord  said 
whose  seed  is  in  itself,  which  could  not  be  until  the  fruit  was  ripe. 
If  not,  it  was  ready  early  enough  on  the  fifth  day.  Gen.  2:5,  shows 
that  every  vegetable,  every  kind  of  plant  and  every  kind  of  grain,  all 
of  that  vast  kingdom,  came  forth  without  planting  seed,  or  trans- 
planting of  seedling,  slips  or  scions  from  elsewhere.     .'Vnd  that  it  was 


'2H.  THK  S'l'ORY  OF  CREATION: 

<ione  before  man  wdt*  created.  And  Oen.  1:29-80,  shows  that  it  \vat< 
ready  on  the  sixth  day  for  man,  beast  and  fowl.  The  mists  may  have 
lielped  also  on  tlie  fourth  morninj^  and  on  every  morning  afterwards 
through  that  week.  And  it  is  very  probable  that  it  continued  all  the 
time  that  Adam  and  Eve  stood  firm  in  obedience. 

Then  for  fowl — all  kinds  of  birds — was  grain  and  seed  of  plants  just 
suited  to  tlie  wants  of  each.  All  tliose  created  in  the  waters  natur- 
ally lurtied  to  the  water  as  a  new  born  being  turns  to  its  parents  for 
support.  The  Lord  had  prepared  the  water  so  that  they  could  live 
on  it  alone.  Yet  he  placed  much  vegetable  food  for  tliem  at  the 
maj'gin  of  all  the  waters. 

To  prevent  any  deleterious  effect  to  them  or  others,  He  made  the 
greater  part  of  all  the  water  of  all  the  earth  to  become  permanently 
salty.  That  itself  was  a  great  act  of  creation.  Salt  itself  is  compared 
to  a  savor  of  life.  It  was  highly  necessary  to  do  this.  Surely,  no  man 
with  any  claim  to  consistency  can  say  all  these  things  only  hai:)pened 
to  he  as  they  are. 

Ezekiel  47:8-9,  speaks  of  the  water  from  the  river  flowing  into  the 
sea  and  of  the  waters  being  healed  by  the  mixing  of  the  fresh  and 
salt  waters  together.  And  of  the  fish  being  benefited  thereby.  The 
river  and  all  the  streams  which  flow  into  it  from  all  adjacent  lands 
must  carry  much  food  to  the  fish.  And  more  so  in  times  when  they 
are  swelled  by  rains  and  overflow  from  any  cause.  From  grass,  and 
plants,  and  trees,  and  grain,  growing  where  it  would  be  carried  off  by 
the  waters,  the  creatures  in  the  waters  below  would  be  fed  by  them 
with  grain  and  the  seeds  of  that  growth  ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  valves 
that  opens  the  store  of  providence  to  those  in  the  sea.    Ps.  10-4:27-28. 

"These  wait  all  upon  Thee;  tliat  thou  mayest  give  them  their  meat 
in  due  season.  That  Thou  givest  them  they  gather;  Thou  openest 
Thine  hand,  they  are  filled  with  good." 

I  once  heard  of  an  old  planter,  when  he  saw  the  great,  muddy 
river  spread  all  over  his  crops  on  his  fertile  bottoms,  that  cursed  the 
rain,  and  the  river,  and  Providence  too.  But  while  his  mouth  was 
opened  in  cursing,  many  below  were  opened  taking  in  food  now  sent 
to  them.  Providence  often  draws  on  those  who  have  to  supply  the 
needs  of  those  who  have  not.  I  once  read  of  a  preacher  who  lost  four 
fine,  fat  hogs  by  a  stroke  of  lightning;  but  it  didn't  make  him  curse 
though.  He  said  he  reckoned  the  Lord  knew  the  buzzards  were  hun- 
gry and  sent  them  some  food  in  that  way. 

One  fall  T  lost  two  fat  shoats — worth  six  dollars — I  regretted  it,  but 
when  I  saw  so  many  hungry  dogs  feasting  on  them  it  reminded  me  of 
the  preacher — and  I  thought  perhaps  the  Lord  drew  upon  me  to 
give  >m  a  good  bait. 

The  Lord  provides  for  all,  but  it  is  at  the  expense  of  others;  how- 
ever, I  never  fail  to  recover  my  los-»es  in  some  other  way.  And  often 
my  disappointments  have  proved  to  be  my  richest  blessings. 

Every  word  of  God  has  a  pertinent  meaning  to  men  ;  if  they  will 
only  apply  themselves  to  find  out  its  meaning,  they  shall  so  discover. 

It  is  obvious  that  the  earthly  and  the  aerial  circulation  of  the 
water  not  only  supplies  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  with  that  amount 
of  moisture  which  they  need,  )mt  is  also  a  constant  purification  of  the 


TllK  S'l'OUY   OK  CWKATION.  1*9. 

waters  loi-  ;i.ll  our  ciirmary  and  oliicr  iiurposes;  for  man,  l)easl ,  fowl  : 
iintl  for  all  living  (uvatun-s.  This  is  jii.sl  as  necessary  as  are  the  cir- 
culalin,!?  fluids  in  the  human  body.  If  any  or<ran  of  man's  body  fails 
to  receive  its  natural  amount  of  arterial  blood,  sent  fresh  from  the 
heart,  it  cannot  perform  its  functions.  Just  so.  if  ai\y  part  of  the 
earth  could  be  shut  off  from  this  circulating  system  in  the  earth,  and 
in  the  atmosphere,  it  would  fail  in  filling  its  place  in  nature. 

To  provide  for  all  these  things — to  unalterably  ti.s:  and  sett  h^  all  these 
|n-inciples  beforehand — strikingly  sets  forth  the  \vis<lom  and  goodness 
of  the  Creator.  And  the  consideration  thereof  can  but  cause  a  very 
high  degree  of  admiration  and  gratitude  in  all  mankind. 

Blessed  fiflii  day,  when  lliou  cmncsl   Forlh. 

Thou  wert  as  (dieery  as  ever  was  e.xpeclanl   bride 

When  hrst  the  hapjiy  day  was  set ! 

For  thou  wast  llic  lirst  to  sec  animate  life, 

-Ind  that,  too,  to  spring  out  of  life  inaniiuale. 

As  out  of  the  womb  of  that  broad  expanse. 

In  thy  presence  there  issued  forth 

Xumerous  beings  into  sentient  life! 

Out  of  th<'  waters  then  sawesl  thou. 

The  living  creatures  come  forth. 

In  their  most  perfect  and  1)eautiful  forms. 

Both  small  and  great,  adrip  with  shining  water! 

And  out  of  those  waters  now  filled  with 

Life  giving  and  life  sustaining  propertie.s. 

Thou  didst  witness  the  coming  forth 

Of  winged  fowl,  playfully  shaking 

From  their  crests  the  dripping  water. 

And  saw  the  briny  spi*ay  dashed  forth 

In  the  sunlight  over  the  sparkling  deep. 

And  witnessed,  too,  many  a  fall 

Splash  back  into  the  water — 

'Till  eacli,  by  instinct,  caught  the  flying  art. 

In  troo]is  of  hai)py  lunv  life  thou  sanest  them, 

-Sporting  in  (he  placid  waters. 

All  merry  with  cackling,  (diattering  joy, 

.\ow  cutting  the  air  above  on  brave  wings. 

And  over  the  meadows  thou  didsl   .see  nud    hear 

The  singing,  warlding  liost  of  pret1,y  birds. 

Thine  it  was  t<i  see  nil  this  beauty  first  ! 

In  the  water  and    in  l  he  air ! 

And  wert  the  lirst   to  c;ilch  tlie  sweet   notes 

<>l'  natal  music!      'i'l'iilv.  1  lion  weiM    hh'st  ! 


30>  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

5IXTH  DAY'S  WORK. 

Gen.  1 :24-25:  "For  the  time  being  the  Creator  gave  to  the  earth 
generative  power  to  bring  forth  her  hosts  of  animate  beings  of  non- 
intelligence.  Yet  moving  by  instinct  with  conscious  powers  to  accom- 
plish their  natural  desires  ;  endowed  with  power  to  procreate  them- 
selves in  their  allotted  orders  of  existence." 

He  commanded  the  earth  and  she  brought  them  forth  after  their 
kinds — in  adult  forms — or  else,  brought  them  to  it,  in  all  of  its  per- 
fection, after  a  miraculous  manner. 

So  at  the  last  day  He  will  say  :  "Let  the  earth  give  back  her  dead." 
And  she  will  obey.  All  that  were  created  in  the  water  or  of  the 
water,  are  nevertheless  of  the  earth  earthy,  and  when  they  die  return 
to  their  dust  again.     Ps.  104:29. 

The  word  kind  in  the  text,  all  through,  I  think,  means  species, 
rather  than  genus.  If  it  means  genus,  then  it  would  imply  a  less 
number  created,  and  the  more  afterward  springing  out  of  the  genera. 

I  think  there  were,  at  least  as  many  as  a  pair  of  each  species — a 
male  and  female — created  ;  especially  of  all  the  larger  ones  ;  as  a  pair 
of  lions,  leopards,  tigers,  panthers  and  cats,  rather  than  only  the  cat 
genus.  In  the  time  of  the  flood  they  were  saved  in  pairs — a  male  and 
female  of  each  kind  ;  except  of  clean  beasts,  and  they  by  sevens.  And 
likewise  of  clean  birds — for  sacrifice.  Gen.  7:2-3.  Thus  they  may 
have  been  created.  Or  else,  God  provided  for  man's  domestic  and 
sacrificial  needs,  as  circumstances  required. 

The  great  bulk  of  mankind  are  what  is  called  the  common  people. 
The  Bible  is  written  in  a  style  suited  to  the  largest  possible  number, 
so  as  to  do  the  greatest  possible  amount  of  good  in  the  world,  and 
that  for  all  time  to  come.  "The  sun  was  risen  upon  the  earth  when 
Lot  entered  Zoar." 

Any  reader  can  understand  that,  but  a  modern  reporter  might  have 
said,  "it  was  six:ten  by  eastern  time,"  and  there  would  be  some  who 
could  not  understand  from  that  what  time  of  day  it  was  when  the 
•famous  city  was  burnt.  From  the  Bible  all  can  understand  it  was 
before  sunrise  at  that  place  when  the  fire  began  and  that  it  was  still 
a  burning  after  sunrise ;  or  that  the  sun  rose  on  that  part  of  the  earth 
while  that  unfortunate  country  was  on  fire  from  heaven.  Among  the 
common  people  we  often  hear  the  expression,  "the  cow  kind,  the 
horse  kind,"  and  so  on.  That  is,  species,  so  I  think,  it  means  in  the 
Bible  wherever  it  is  used. 

In  the  account  in  the  text,  there  is  no  order  given,  as  from  lowest 
to  highest  forms  of  animals ;  but  in  both  verses  they  are  mentioned 
promiscuously.  He  had  but  to  speak,  and  it  was  done;  or  will  it  to 
be,  and  it  was  so.  It  was  all  miraculous.  Every  creature  was  pro- 
duced instantaneously  ;  and  in  adult  form  ;  or  quickly  grew  to  it.  As 
in  the  ten  plagues  of  Egypt,  it  was  done  instantly,  and  in  an  instant 
brought  to  a  perfect  finish. 

Yet  in  statement  we  may  say  just  under  the  surface  of  the  ground 
were  formed  earth  worms,  crawling  bugs  and  all  such  things  as  live 
there.     Above  the  surface  were  made  insects,  a?  ants,  and   all   those 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  31. 

that  crawl  on   the    ground ;   anii    hopping    things ;    as    grasshoppers, 
crickets,  and  some  others  too  familiar  to  name. 

The  girls  should  not  get  mad  with  the  crickets,  if  they  do  cut  holes 
in  their  garments,  because  they  have  a  right  to  be  in  this  world ;  the 
Creator  ordered  them  here.  In  the  air  were  gnats,  flies,  flying  bugs 
of  all  varieties ;  moths  and  butterflies,  with  all  their  wonderful  varie- 
ties and  exquisite  beauty ;  together  with  wasps,  hornets  and  yellow- 
jackets — whether  appreciated  or  not.  The  boys  ought  not  to  get  mad 
if  any  of  these  sting  them,  for  they  will  not  do  it  if  they  will  let  them 
alone.  Just  so  with  the  bees;  they  are  authorized  to  protect  them- 
selves, and  to  defend  their  young  and  their  property. 

Then  came  forth  out  of  the  ground  those  that  creep  upon  the  earth, 
snails,  terrapins,  gophers,  and  those  others  which  burrow  in  the 
ground;  as  moles,  ground-hogs,  ground-squirrels,  prairie  dogs — all 
that  creep  upon  the  earth  and  burrow  in  the  ground.  Then  those  that 
leap;  as  the  kangaroos;  squirrels,  both  black  and  gray;  and  the 
hare — or  rabbit.  And  oh,  how  the  darkies  do  love  'era!  And  'pos- 
sums, pretty  enough  and  fat  enough  to  make  any  negro's  mouth 
water  I  It  paid  'em  well  to  come  to  America  to  get  'possum  and  rab- 
bit to  eat ;  both  are  peculiar  to  this  country. 

Then  the  larger  animals;  as  deer,  buffalos,  bears,  lions,  tigers, 
wolves,  hyenas,  leopards,  giraffes,  elephants  and  others.  Then  the 
gentler  ones ;  as  the  camel,  the  ass,  the  horse,  the  goat,  the  sheep, 
the  cow,  and  cats  and  dogs.  And  last  of  all,  the  poor,  unfortunate 
serpent— the  Judas  of  Creation. 

At  His  bidding  they  all  came  forth  out  of  the  earth  in  the  full  per- 
fection of  their  being ;  or  else  expanded  into  fullness  of  life  immedi- 
ately. The  first  was  a  generation  of  parents,  whose  seed  was  in  them- 
selves ;  matured  to  stock  the  world  with  their  kinds.  A  few  of  each 
kind  would  be  sufficient  for  this.  This  is  the  origin  of  species.  Great 
uniformity  has  been  observed  in  keeping  each  in  its  own  lines — sepa- 
rate from  all  others ;  an  evidence  of  infinite  wisdom  in  their  creation 
and  constant  preservation.  It  seems  that  it  would  take  a  constant 
exertion  of  universal  power  to  keep  them  distinct,  as  they  are  unto 
this  day.  And  still  they  have  had  freedom  to  range  together  all  the 
while  in  all  the  earth. 

As  far  as  is  known  to  man,  no  genus  or  species  has  been  lost.  How- 
ever, some  writers  wish  to  say  some  have  been  lost.  They  may  be 
correct ;  but  it  reminds  me  of  a  farmer  who  was  troubled  with  rats. 
Going  into  his  barn  one  morning  he  only  saw  a  few,  and  congratulated 
himself  that  all  the  rest  had  become  extinct.  But  afterwards  found 
he  was  mistaken.  So  may  these  writers  be  mistaken;  for  there  are 
forest  jungles  and  ocean  depths  that  the  eyes  of  science  have  not  yet 
penetrated ;  and  especially  they  did  not  see  all  over  at  once.  So  there 
may  be  some  things  in  the  world  which  they  have  not  seen  ;  and  when 
they  looked  some  may  have  been  alibi — elsewhere. 

How  happy  was  every  creature  in  its  new-born  existence  1  The 
chirping  grasshoppers  in  the  sunshine,  and  the  crickets  under  the 
rocks ;  busy  bees,  butter  flies  and  humming  birds  sucking  the  nectar 
of  the  flowers.  The  sheep,  deer,  goats,  cows  and  horses  browsing 
upon  the  grass;   the  hogs  under  the  chestnut  and   hickory  nut  trees; 


H-2.  IHK  STORY  OF  OREATlON. 

now  with  the  Jargor  animals  eating  wheat  and  other  grain  as  they 
please.  The  clogs  and  the  cats  on  the  well  ripened  fruits,  melons  and 
potatoes;  every  one  as  happy  as  instinct  could  be. 

The  birds  singing  in  the  trees,  tiying  from  place  to  place;  trying 
their  recently  given  aerial  and  musical  powers.  Xor  did  the  wolf  envy 
the  sheep,  nor  the  lion  the  goat ,  nor  the  alligator  in  the  pond  crave 
any  dog  tiesh.  For  they  did  "not  hurt  nor  destroy"  in  all  the  eai'th. 
Is.  65:25.  All  was  peace  and  harmony  complete.  Every  one  felt  an 
air  of  perfect  freedom  and  sense  of  conscious  safety. 

There  was  no  boy  throwing  rocks  at  the  birds,  or  scaring  them  in 
any  way;  nor  man  pointing  his  rifle  at  a  sleek  deer;  nor  on  horse 
chasing  the  ostrich  or  buffalo;  nor  with  hook  and  line  trying  to  snare 
the  fisii.  Xone  of  them  had  a  single  enemy.  Without  a  master,  they 
h;id  the  world  to  themselves.  Indeed,  it  was  a  lovely  scene  I  It  would 
have  thrilled  your  soul  to  have  seen  it.  "And  God  saw  tliat  it  was 
good.'"     It  all  satisfied  the  perfect  criticism  of  the  Most  High. 

We  now  come  to  what  God  regarded  the  acme  of  Creation — what  all 
the  proceeding  was  for — the  making  of  the  human  species.  The  Cre- 
i\\()i\  it  seems,  paused  before  proceeding.  The  Son  of  God,  the  acting 
("i-eator,  Heb.  1  :l-2.  Col.  1 :18-17,  had  up  to  this  time  created  all 
things  else  by  His  word ;  but  now  He  refers  back  to  the  thi-one  for 
further  directions.  Gen.  1:26.  The  conclusion  of  that  great  council. 
Father,  Son  and  Spirit,  is,  "Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our 
likeness."  For  he  is  to  be  a  king — he  is  to  rule  in  oiir  stead  upon  the 
earth — for  oiu*  interest  in  the  world  we  will  need  to  have  much  corre- 
spondence with  him.  Let  us,  therefore,  make  him  capable  of  commu- 
nicating with  us.  Being  our  offspring,  bearing  our  image — after  our 
likeness,  he  will  serve  our  purposes  better  than  on  any  other  plan. 

If  he  should  be  altogether  material,  that  would  not  do,  for  he  must 
be  higher  than  the  beasts.  Ps.  8:6.  If  he  should  be  only  spiritual, 
that  would  not  answer,  for  he  must  be  a  little  lower  than  the  angels. 
Heb.  2  :7-9.  So  it  is  best  to  give  him  a  dtial  nature.  Let  him  take 
hold  on  earth  and  heavcMi  too;  and  be  a  connecting  link  to  ultimately 
bring  them  both  together.  J^et  hiiri  be  intellectual,  moral  anrl 
spiritual — in  our  inuvge — nature  pure  and  good — after  our  likeness — 
in  life  upright  and  true.  Tet  him  be  a  triiiitv  in  unitv,  "Spirit,  soul 
and  body.''   1  Thes.  5:28.  '^ 

The  question  settled,  action  began.  The  earth  trembled  at  the 
touch  of  the  Creator.  She  yielded  every  property  of  her  soil,  and  of 
her  clay  for  the  composition  of  man's  body.  She  gave  him  her  best. 
That  virgin  soil  and  that  red  clay  in  His  hands  were  soon  vitalized 
into  the  osseous  system  of  i  perfect  man,  with  all  of  his  appendages, 
covered  over  with  flesh  ;  finished  with  a  beautiful  exterior;  medullary 
matter,  blood  and  cellular  fluids  held  in  reserve  for  the  momentum  of 
life.  "Aiifl  God'' — Elohim — "breathed  into  liis  nostrils  the  l>reatli  of 
life" — lives — animal,  mental  and  spiritual  life — "and  man  became  a 
living  soul" — ail  immortal  spirit — tlie  offspring  of  Elohlm-the  triune 
God.  He  stood  upright  ;  walked  steady,  erect ;  of  exquisite  symme- 
try, of  perfect  beauty;   a  son  of  God.     lAike  H:HS<. 

How  delighted  was  Adam,  when  he  tii'sfr  opened  his  eyes  upon  tlie 
lieauriful  scene  all  around. and  above  him  I    Seeintr  so  nuun   heautifui. 


THE  STORY  OF  ORKATJON.  HH. 

hajjpy  creatures,  liearinj;  so  many  sweet  souikIs,  and  liistiiste  reji:aled 
by  such  (lelicious  fruit  he  was  iiiexpressibJy  happy.  Xature  did, 
tlintu.i,di  jjrovidence,  her  best  for  him.  And  as  if  this  was  not  (enough 
for  Ids  only  heir  on  earth,  the  Lord  must  plant  Jiim  a  pirden — the 
^■ardeii  of  Eden — of  delights;  while  the  wliole  earth,  as  yet,  was  an 
Eden.  But  if  he  was  to  be  a  king,  he  must  have  a  palace  as  well  as  a 
dominion.  Gen.  1  :2G.  Truly,  no  king  since  has  had  so  hap|)y  a  palace; 
Tiever  lived  in  the  midst  of  so  much  beauty:  never  had  so  mui'h  peace 
in  his  capitol,  nor  so  much  ])leiity  ;  nor  such  feelings  of  safety  and 
contentment.  No  king  ever  had  such  a  peaceful  popidace  or  such  sub- 
nnssive  subjects.  The  garden  was  the  gem  of  all  Eden  ;  the  home  of 
the  tirst  king  oti  eart.h,  and  the  cradle  of  the  human  race. 

It  was  located  eastward  in  Eden.  Gen.  '2:S.  Out  of  the  rich  virgin 
soil  of  this  garden  the  Lord  nuuie  every  tree  of  beauty  and  of  sweet- 
ness to  grow  ;  and  all  that  would  contribute  in  any  way  to  man's  hap- 
pines;  with  the  tree  of  life  in  its  midst,  and  also  the  tree  of  the 
knowledge  of  good  and  evil.  lie  alsu  ornamented  and  refreshed  it 
with  springs  and  streams  of  wat(>r.  atul  gathered  into  it  ;dl  the  beau- 
ties and  all  the  sweets  of  every  /one  of  earth. 

In  this  happy  situation  the  Lord  placed  His  lirsl  man.  Vet,  after 
all,  Adam  was  not  completely  hai)py  :  nor  do  I  believe  any  man  can  be 
without  a  wife.     Xo  Adam  can  until  he  tinds  his  Eve. 

The  next  thing  was  to  put  man  under  law.  (len.  2:10-17.  Now  some 
might  think  this  woidd  restrain  his  happiness,  but  not  so ;  man  is 
never  more  happy  than  when  under  law  to  God;  yes,  and  that  before 
he  marries.  The  Lord  taught  Adam  to  obey  him  before  he  gave  him 
a  wife.  A  prudent  wife  is  God's  gift.  Prov.  19  :14;  an  imprudent  one 
is  the  devil's  curse,  Prov.  7:27.  Obedience  to  God's  laws  is  the  best 
preparation  for  marriage  in  either  sex. 

Now  the  Lord  brought  .\dam  to  the  bank  of  Euphrates — it  ran 
through  the  garden — here  He  caused  the  beings  living  in  the  water  to 
swim  before  him  to  see  what  he  would  call  them.  Yiv  gave  to  each 
species  a  name  suitable  tt)  its  natiu'e  and  habits.  Likewise  the  birds, 
the  beasts  and  every  species  of  living  creatures,  came  in  view,  andtlie 
names  that  Adam  gave  them  stood  approved,  and  have  gone  into  their 
equivalents  in  all  languages,  and  are  retained  unto  this  day.  Gen.  2: 
J 9-20.  Adam  was  wiser  then  than  any  naturalist  has  since  been. 
And  why,  because  he  had  tuiught  of  evil  to  clog  his  mental  powders. 
And  for  Adam  there  was  no  helpmeet  found.  Tf  there  had  been  one, 
he  wouhl  have  been  glad  to  have  given  her  a  name.  The  Lord  had 
compassion  on  him  and  said,  I  will  make  an  helpmeet  for  him;  a 
favor  as  yet  unasked  by  Adam.  So  he  pities  every  one  that  is  alone, 
and  provides  for  each  a  helpmeet.  But  ever  since  Adam  fell  every 
one  has  to  work  for  himself.  Some  pray  and  go  unblest,  because 
they  do  not  work:  while  some  never  pray,  yet  are  blest  because  they 
work.  But  th()se  succeed  best  who  both  work  and  pray:  tor  these 
tivo  laws  must  l)e  obeyed. 

The  Deity  consulted  in  regard  lo  the  making  of  the  womrin.  Gen. 
1  :2(j-2S.  It  was  but  the  continuation  of  the  work  of  making  man — 
they  were  both  called  .\dani  at  first — or  man.  ll  was  liner  and  more 
intricate  work  than  t  he  making  of  the  man.     I  f  his  lordship  was  import- 


;M.  I'IIK   STOIJV   of CKEA'I'IOX. 

ant,  her  l;i<l.vslu]j  was  iioiif  llu^  less  so.  It'  he  needed  sti'(^ngth,  sheas 
'  inucli  needed  fortitude;  and  for  this  she  must  be  prepared.  To  pro- 
duce sueli  a  physique,  yet  of  tlie  finer  qualities  of  body  and  inind  and 
spirit  necessary  to  womanhood,  was  no  small  undertaklu^-;  and  its 
successful  completion  was  the  crowniiiLf  work  of  Oi'eation.  The  cou]j 
de  yrace — finishing;  stroke. 

Throiiiili  that  hig:h  council  t  hus  ran  the  trend  of  thouy,'ht  :  It  will 
not  do  lake  her  directly  out  of  the  ground  ;  in  that  case,  the  man  and 
the  woman  will  be  too  far  apart  ;  it  mig'ht  l>e  tliought  tliey  are  two 
dei)art.nienls  in  nature — two  independent  heads — if  she  is  taken  out 
of  the  man  she  will  be  his  sister  and  more;  his  closest  companion — a 
part  of  himself — and  in  bodily  and  mental  and  spiritual  affinities  they 
will  1)1'  one.  This  plan  was  au'reed  upon  and  arrangements  made  for 
t  he  work. 

Adam  having  indulged  so  mucli  in  the  delights  of  Eden,  and  in  the 
loveliness  of  all  nature  around  him,  and  taxed  his  mental  powers  to 
find  lumies  appropriate  for  all  the  species  of  living  creatures — of  course 
t  hese  were  the  first  exercises  he  had  ever  bail;  became  tired  in  both 
Itody  and  mind.  The  Lord  saw  that  he  was  weary,  and  said,  Adam, 
my  son,  T  will  excuse  you  now ;  you  need  rest.  The  Loi-d  showed 
him  liow  to  go  to  bed,  and  how  to  sleep,  assuring  him  that  He  would 
watch  over  him  while  he  slept,  and  that  nothing  should  hurt  him. 
"He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep,"  Ps.  127:2.  Being  tired,  he  slept 
soundly,  and  v(M'y  deeply.  Why  should  he  not?  He  had  never  done 
aught  of  evil  to  disturb  his  repose.  Therefore,  although  all  alone  in 
the  world,  he  could  sweetly  sleep,  Gen.  2:21. 

While  he  slept  th(>  Lord  came  softly,  and  without  pain  to  liis  pa- 
tifMil ,  made  an  incision  from  the  middle  of  his  chest  clear  around  to 
his  s|)ine,  just  below  his  heart,  and  gently  removed  a  rib,  without 
losing  a  drop  of  Idood'.  He  came  at  a  time  when  the  circulation  was 
most  complete,  so  that  every  element  of  nnin's  natui'e  should  be 
epitomized  in  the  l)one,  flesh  ^md  blood  which  He  reinoved.  He  healed 
the  wound  so  nicely  that  Adam  was  not  iu  the  least  disfigured  l)y  it; 
nor  was  lie  ever  the  weaker  for  having  lost  that  rib. 

The  Lord  retired  a  short  distance  and  went  to  work.  Nor  could  you 
have  told  from  trace  of  blood  the  place  at  which  he  worked.  In  the 
happy  hands  of  the  Creator  tiiat  rib  soon  grew  into  a  spinal  column 
crowned  with  a  beautiful  cranium,  arms  and  lower  extremities,  hands, 
feet,  fingers  and  toes  were  formed;  heart,  lungs  and  all  viscera  were 
produced,  with  veins,  arteries  and  muscles;  covered  overall  witli  a 
skin  of  softest,  finest  texture;  ornamented  with  a  beautiful  head  of 
hair — long,  reaching  quite  low — black — in  beautiful  contrast  with 
Adam's,  which  was  red :  organs  of  sense  duly  formed;  features  all 
conqilete;  lithe  of  limb;  of  exquisite  form.  ".V  thi7ig  of  beauty  "  she 
was,  "and  a  joy  forever."" 

Some,  however,  might  not  think  she  was  truly  a  joy  forever,  as  she 
afterwards  was  a  means  of  bringing  trouble  upon  Adam.  II  was, 
t  hough,  better  for  him  to  be  in  trouble  with  her  than  to  be  without  her. 
.Vnd  which  is  better  than  beauty — more  general  and  more  lasting — she 
was  etu-iched  with  a  peculiar  sweetness,  tln^  like  of  which  was  not  found 
in  aiixlhiuL!-  else,  which  should  insni-e  her.    as  well    as  wc;iker   luiture. 


I' I  IK   STOIJN    OF   CUKATIOX.  ii-'). 

|)i-()lfcti()ii  ill  llu-  hand  of  man:  and  is  l)clt«M-.  by  I'ar.  tlian  any 
tMidounient  ol'  money  value.  And  while  since  the  fall  her  desire  is  1<> 
her  luishand,  lie  is  ever  drawn  and  fastened,  and  held  by  her  ciiarnis. 
This  affinity,  founded  in  nature,  in  mental  affection,  and  in  sjMritual 
adhesion,  as  well  as  in  iDhysiea!  attractions — mutual  hetween  them — 
affords  strong-  evidence  of  the  hiij:h  source  whence  they  c-ame. 

Amonj>-  birds  and  domestic  fowls,  the  male  is  usually  more  beautiful 
than  the  female.  80  it  is,  too,  in  some  animals,  both  small  and 
larue.  But  in  the  human  family  the  female  is  the  more  pretty. 
However,  I  can't  say  bow  it  appears  to  the  opposite  sex. 

The  Lord — Elohim — breathe(i  into  her  nostrils  the  breath  of  life — 
lives — animal,  mental  and  spiritual  life — and  she  became  a  living- 
soul — an  immortal  spirit — like  Adam.  F^or  sbe,  too,  was  made  in  the 
image  of  God,  Gen.  1  :27,     And  a  daughter  of  God — Klohim — she  was. 

How  happy  she  was  when  she  opened  her  eyes  ui)i!n  the  beautiful 
world  all  around  her!  Upon  the  pretty,  sweet  flowers,  and  l)eautii'ul 
birds — the  whole  world  was  a  scene  of  beauty  and  sweetness  to  her. 
The  little  animals  seemed  to  love  her,  and  she  began  to  pet  them, 
and  said  to  the  Lord,  1  thank  you  so  much  for  giving  me  so  many 
pretty,  sweet  things!  But  when  she  saw  some  of  the  large 
animals,  though  they  were  outside  the  garden,  she  began  to  feel 
afraid,  and  thought  within  herself,  how  can  I  live  among  these  crea- 
fures?  The  Lord  told  lier  slie  need  not  be  afi'aid,  and  said,  do  you 
see  that  man  sleeping  yonder  upon  the  soft  grass,  in  the  shade,  under 
the  tree  of  life?  Upon  his  strong  arm  shall  you  Unin,  and  together 
you  shall  subdue  the  beasts.  I  made  him  out  of  the  ground,  and 
have  made  you  out  of  him.     You  shall  l)e  one  together-nnm  and  wife. 

To  see  there  was  anotlier,  so  mu<th  like  herself,  and  yet  so  strong 
and  brave_iiTtli  a.Jiliyri'if?  ii^  hi^  companionship,  all  she  could  desire, 
tilled  her  soul  with  such  emotions  as  she  had  not  felt  before  In  those 
happy  moments  all  life's  higliest  enjoyments  and  grandest  hopes 
passed  through  her  heart.  A  brightness  of  transcendent  beauty  played 
over  her  face,  while  the  pui-e,  happy  spirit  within,  from  the  depths  of 
innocency  and  pure  love  in  the  heart  beneath,  quite  shone  out  through 
the  flesh — for  the  moment  it  was  almost  a  transfigured  face.  Oh,  hap|)y 
scene  of  eartlUs  first  love!  But  Adam  did  not  see  that  b<'auty 
superl) — minglerl  with  gladness — in  love's  earliesi  i-ise.  Nor  all  the 
fullness  of  that  happy  hour  did  she  ever  tell  him.  l»ul  transmitted  all 
of  it  she  could  to  her  daughters,  fair  and  pure. 

While  -Vdani  was  taking  his  necessary  rest  aufl  sleep  the  Lord  did 
great  thinirs  for  him.  So  now  while  one  half  of  the  world  are  asleep, 
the  other  half  are  awake;  and  the  Lord  alternately  watching  over 
er.ch  :  by  day  and  by  night ,  whether  they  sleep  or  wake.  Mow  thank- 
ful we  should  be  ! 

Though  having  all  ea.rthly  blessings  but  one.  Adam  wiMil  to  sleep 
thinking  about  his  lonely  condition — that  he  had  no  company  on 
i>arth — no  helper — no  means  of  perpetuating  his  species — as  he  saw 
allolhei-  creatures  had.  lii  his  dreams  he  saw  anolher  man:  not 
(|uile  like  himself,  but  resembling  him  very  closely,  lie  wish(>d  so 
much  that  that  man  would  come,  stay  and  keep  company  with  him. 
I'resently  he  saw  that  it  was  a  woman  !      His  own  counterpart  !      And 


/  »  W  /r  vfL-/       L  r.  A  i  \.  t. 


■X  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

lit-  rhoiiiilit  fshe  is  lay  sis^ter,  my  helpmeet!  O  how  pretty  and  lovely 
slie  appeared!  She  came  near  to  him,  he  kissed  her,  and  said,  How 
I  wish  you  would  come  and  stay  with  me!  She  said,  I  will  after 
awhile;  and  vanished  out  of  his  sight.  Just  then  he  waked  and  saw 
the  Lord  coming-  to  hint  with  that  beautiful  creature  walking?  by  his 
side!  How  surprised  !  And  how  delig'hted  he  was !  And  Oh.  how 
he  loved  her!  With  a  purer  love,  perhaps,  than  any  of  his  sons  have 
since  felt.     She  loved  him,  too,  with  a  love  queenly  and  pure. 

The  Lord  said,  Adam,  I  was  sorry  for  you  in  your  loneliness  and  have 
made  aiid  have  brousifht  a  helpnjeet  for  you.  Adam  said.  Blessed  be 
Thy  holy  name!      I  thatik  thee  with  all  my  lieart  for  so  great  a  gift ! 

The  LoLxl  left  them  to  themselves  for  awhile.  How  sweetly  the 
moments  passed  as  they  conversed  together!  Xo  purer  love  has  ever 
been  enjoyed  by  any  of  their  children  since.  Xor  need  I  tell  you 
they  were  happy. 

From  childhood  on  we  receive  the  pleasures  of  life  gradually,  but 
perfected  manhood  and  woinanhood  bursting  upon  them  suddenly  all 
at  once,  and  that  so  fortunately,  gave  them  an  experience  of  real 
happiness,  which  we  cann(jt  realize.  And  their  happiness  was  fur- 
ther htglit  ened  from  the  fact  they  wei*e  surrounded  by  a  world  whose 
beauties  had  never  been  marred,  nor  its  peace  interrupted  in  any 
way. 

After  uAvhiJe  Eve  said,  O  Adam,  what  is  that  I  hear?  O  what  sweet 
sounds  I  Did  you  ever  hear  such!  Behold,  the  clouds  are  full  of 
shining  ones,  somewhat  like  us  only  they  have  wings  and  shine  like 
the  sun !  Soon  the  garden,  all  around  where  they  stood,  was  full  of 
the  heavenly  host,  praising  the  Creator  for  His  wonderful  works  of 
creation . 

And  Avhen  they  came  to  the  <-reation  of  the  man  and  the  woman 
they  struck  their  highest  notes,  and  said  : 

For  though  out  of  the  ground  He  took  them ; 

In  His  own  image  he  made  them. 

He  breathed  into  them  the  life  of  man. 

And  immortal  souls  they  became. 

His  own  otfs]jriiig  they  are. 

-ind  our  younger  brothers. 

For  then  the  morning  stars  sang  together,  and  all  the  sons  of  God 
shouted  for  joy,  Job  88  :7.  Here  the  Lord  says  they  did  it  at  the 
Creation.  Morning  stars — angels  of  highest  station.  Sons  of  God — 
angels  of  ordinary  rank.  All  of  them,  however,  are  called  sons  of 
God.  They  had  now  appeared  upon  the  stage,  to  celebrate  the  clos- 
ing of  the  works  of  Creation,  upon  the  field  of  action ;  to  witness  the 
first  marriage,  and  to  bear  their  coiigratulations  to  the  happy  pair. 
And  who  has  not  felt  a  solemn  presence  in  the  wedding  chamber; 
enough  to  make  the  holiest,  and  the  stoutest  minister  of  the  gospel 
tremble  while  he  performs  that  holy  ceremony,  showing  it  is  a  thing 
not  to  be  trifled  with;  that  the  Lord  throws  around  it  a  sanctity 
which  all  should  respect. 

In  this  august  and  holy  presence  the  first  marriage  nuptials  were 
celebrated,   by    ITini.    perhaps,  who  afterward    blesserl    another  mar- 


TUK  !^TOKY  OF  CREATIOX.  -^7. 

ria^v  with  His  visil>le  presoiK'O,  .loliii  L' :  1 .  Al  lliat  timt-  Adam  uiul 
Eve  wore  always  ready  to  meet,  their  Heavenly  visitors;  \u\v  did. even 
lluv  presence  oV  (iod  Himself  afi'rij^dit  them  ;  I'or  lieDveii  and  earth  were 
then  in  peri'eet  harmony — would  be  ni>w,  hut   for  sin. 

Adam  now  i;-ave  his  bride  a  name.  He  was  an  expert  in  nainin.n'. 
He  called  lier'woman.  They  all  a.ii'reed  to  that,  and  i1  was  so  recorded. 
Xeither  have  the  centuries  since  found  for  her  a  better,  (Jen.  2  :255-'21  ; 
nor  have  they  found  better  reasons  why  a  man  shouhl  love  his  wife. 
They  were  tlie  counterparts  of  each  other.  Tt  took  thoTu  both  to  make 
one  perfect  hunum  beino;,  in  all  respects.  The  one  is  not  without  the 
other  in  the  Lord,  1  ('or.  11:11.  Kit  her  witbonl  the  other  is  incom- 
plete. One  alone  cannot  (ill  all  the  purposes  of  (-realion.  The  i-rea- 
tion  of  man  was  unfinished  until  the  woman  was  made. 

"And  Cod  blessed  them" — how  jvood  is  His  blessin.s^- !  "And  (Jod 
said  unto  them,  be  faithful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth, 
and  subdu.'  it,  and  have  dominion  over  the  tish  of  the  sea,  and  over 
the  fowl  of  vlie  air,  and  over  every  livin.i-:  thin,i>-  that  moveth  upon  the 
earth."  (ieii.  1  :2S.  Obedience  to  His  laws  is  the  sure  way  to  hiub- 
rst  enjovmiMit,  but  disobedience  to  them  brings  untold  miseries. 

They 'had  the  fullest  liberty  to  all  I  he  <Miioyments  ..f  the  ^garden- 
only  one  tree  forbidden — yet  that  upon  iKiin  of  death.  ■"In  the  day 
thou  eiitest  thereof,  thou  "shalt  surely  die.  '  (h-n.  2:17:  or  beirinnin;^- 
in  thai  day  to  die,  thou  shalt  ultimately  die  out  of  the  earth.  It  was 
1  heir  duty  to  dress  the  o-arden  ;  improve  it  if  they  could,  more  to  their 
t  asl  e  :  anil  to  keep  it — prot  ect,  or, perhaps,  possess  it .  It  was  to  be  theirs 
upon  certain  conditions.  Suppose  they  had  not  disobeyed,  and  their 
multiplyinj,'  posterity  had  become  too  numerous  for  it,  then  they 
would  be  able  to  relieve  the  situation,  for  they  were  [Hit  in  dominion 
of  all  the  earth,  and  over  everything  in  it. 

The  Lord  now  takes  a  general  view  of  all  the  things  He  had  made; 
is  pleased  with  it  all  as  a  whole,  as  well  as  in  all  of  its  particulars  ;  was 
satisfied  with  everything  he  had  done.  The  whole  Godhead  approved  ; 
pronounced  it  good,  "very  good,"  or,  good,  good,  a  Hebraism  for 
that  which  is  perfect.  "And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
sixth  day,"  (ren.  1  :;{L      "And  the  Habbath  drew  on,"  Luke  2o:5-i. 

H  wa.s  now  at  the  close  of  the  sixth  day.  This  was  the  greatest  and 
the  grandest,  the  crowning  day's  work  of  all.  In  su<-ccssive  steps  the 
ollii-rs  led  up  1(1  (hi-^:  and  by  so  many  closely  connect  ed  links  |)re- 
|)art'!l  tor  it .  Every  living  thing  was  provided  for  before  it  was  lirought 
into  ibe  world;  es|)eciaily  the  man.  and  inoi-e  especially  was  the 
wonnm.  Oncoming  they  found  a  home  well  adapted  to  their  every 
avenue  of  personal  en  joy  men  1  ;  and  locilhcr,  and  in  liotli.  1  lu-ir  hajii)!- 
m-ss  was  made  cuniDlelc. 

nil.  happy  Sixth  day.  above  any  of  ihe  rest, 

Th\   woi-k  was  blest  :    and  thy  experience  tool 

For  Ihy  pleasure  it   was  lo  see. 

From  llie  earth  agaiie  the  sprinizing  forth 

Of  the  mighl\-  nimislers  of  the  hind. 

In  all  the  fullness  of  llieir  powers  1 

III    his   poIldelMII.-   1  read   1  o  sei' 


THE  STOEY  vOF  CREATION. 

The  jjerfecl  elephant  walk  forth. 

The  lion,  at  once  born  to  iniperiaJ  strength. 

The  horse — the  prince  of  the  beastly  race, 

In  all  his  splendid  beauty  to  gallop  forth; 

And  all  the  rest,  both  great  and  small, 

Sawest  tluiii  hrst  in  sportive  life  upon  the  eartii 

And  thou  knewest  that  witiiont  touch  of  hand. 

The  mighty  Maker  did  it  all,  that  at  His  word  each  came. 

Into  its  own  circle  of  being.     But  now,  as  not  before, 

Thou  didst  see  Him  touch  the  earth  ; 

And  out  of  the  earth,  with  His  own  hands, 

Thou  didst  see  Him  make  n)an — 

He  who  in  nature  is  over  all  tlie  rest. 

And  sawest  thou  that  heaven  furnished  the  soul  of  man. 

And  other  thini>s  too,  ah  !   (juite  as  grand  didst  thou  see  I 

For  out  of  His  nature  coifiplete, 

B(Hh  heaven  and  earth  coinbininji-. 

Thou  sawest  Hini  his  helpmeet  make. 

And,  too,  thou  didsl  see  the  happy  tie. 

That  bound  the  two  in  one,  with-all  of  Eden's  perfect  good. 

And  heaven  s  blissful  smiles,  thou  sawest  them  ble.-it. 

And  lu'ardest  thou  all  the  happy  laws. 

Which  then,  to  them  were  given. 

Now  Thy  work  is  done,  closed  be  Tliy  councils: 

Shut  be  all  thy  places  of  business, 

And  of  worldly  pleasures  too, 

Silent,  be  all  thy  industries  and  arts; 

Down  be  laid  every  tool,  with  which  t[\ou  hast  wrought. 

And  let  the  mighty  workinan  n-sl . 

For  if  not  hard  for  Him,  He  has  wrought  well 

Even  well  for  Almgihty  Energy; 

And  well  deserves  that  sweet  rest 

The  world  will  also  stand  in  need  of. 

That  princely  example  while  time  shall  last  ; 

"Then  let  him  enter  into  his  rest,"  Heb.  4:4. 

Now  let  every  harp  in  heaven  be  attuned  to  His  jjraise ; 

And  let  each  rolling  .sphere  catch  the  rapturous  strain  ; 

From  nearest  to  most  distant  skies  echo  it  forth. 

Till  all  miture,  witli  Eden's  happy  pair, 

Shall  join  His  glory  to  declare. 


CHAPTEE  VTl. 

THE  SEVENTH   DAY. 

The  industrious  AN'orkman,  towards  the  close  of  the  sixth  day  con- 
tinued His  work  until  it  was  growing  late — the  sun  had  set^vet  there 
was  work  to  do;  and  He  did  not  want  to  leave  any  to  be  taken  up  on 
the  eighth  day;  so  He  continued  to  bring  it  to  completion.  Xow  (he 
curtains  of  niiilit  were  dropping  upon  the  eastern  horizon:  the  begin- 
ning'  of  the  S:ib!)n1  li    wnsneiii-at     hand — cominL;'    on  .-i|);icc — and     lie 


THK  sroPvV  OF  (RKATTON.  ;i9. 

imisl  \vi>rk  in  hasti'  to  linisli;  mid  \o  set  ii  ])tM-r(M'l  cxatiii^lc  to  all  nicii 
and  woiutMi  and  ciiildn'ii  luMicet'ort b.  to  he  cari'l'iil  to  ket-p  the  whole 
of  the  Sahhath  day  holy  :  therefore  lie  (iiuekly  ,<,'ave  His  work  tiie 
last  finishing;  touehes.  and  ended  jiisl  at  the  he.^inninu  of  I  hf  Sahhath 
nii;-ht .      CJen.  "2  :2. 

For  it  had  been  ITis  holy  desi.^ii  to  consecrate  t  he  whole  of  that  day 
to  siu-red  use,  so  He  would  not  borrow  a  monientof  its  holy  time. 
Herein  we  have  an  example  of  industry  and  perseverance  as  well  as 
of  resfiii"'  on  the  Sabbath,  both  in  its  hours  of  sunli.uht  and  of  dark- 
ness. Xol  a  lick  of  work  diil  He  do  on  the  Sabbath,  but  ended  all  His 
woi'k  just  as  the  tii-st  nionuMit  of  Salibatb  tinu'  approached.  .Now  lie 
enlei'ed  fully  into  His  rest  . 

The  eliickens,  ;>-uineas,  j^'eese  an<l  ducks  nestled  down  to  rest.  The 
birds  clasped  the  lin)bs  of  trees,  and  of  bushes  for  their  ni,L,dit's 
repose.  Hushed  were  all  the  insects,  couched  under  the  yrass,  the 
rocks,  and  in  other  hidini;-  jilaces  t<i  sleep.  Down  wei-e  laid  all  tlie 
aiuniais  on  earth  and  likewise  those  in  the  water,  for  t  heir  ni^ht 's  rest 
and  sleep.  .\or  <lid  the  lion,  the  wolf  nor  owl  u-o  out  to  |)rey  to  break 
that  happy  repose.  For  the  beasts  of  prey  then  ent  j^-rass  and  grain, 
as  did  the  slieep  and  goat,  and  the  birds  of  prey  likewise.  Xeither 
did  .\dani  go  a  "possum  hunting.  He  kept  himself  strictly  to  the  law 
of  the  Sal)hath  night.  Kre  the  rising  dawn,  afore  the  red  aml)er 
ai)pi'ared  in  the  east,  the  birds  began  to  sing,  thege(-se  to  chat  ter,  1  he 
rooster  to  crow  and  t  he  insects  to  chirp,  as  in  full  joy  of  t  hankful  life. 
Xor  did  a  rising  hawk  go  forth  in  search  of  chicken  or  bird  for  pi'ey, 
hut  was  satisfied  to  breakfast  on  vegetable  diet  .  Xeithei'did  Adam 
and  F,ve  l;-o  a  fishing  nor  rabbit  hunting.  They  ke|)t  all  of  the  Sab- 
bath holy.  On  and  on.  rested  I  he  happy  ( 'reat  or,  al  I  I  hi'  (la\  .  W*' 
was  sati-<lied  with  the  honnige  of  His  livim:  creal  iii-e.-;.  In  His  heart 
He  said  it  was  good.  But  oti  went  the  earth  and  every  revolving 
sphere  in  perpetual  motion,  as  wln-els  that  never  1  i  re.  t  bat  iieverslop. 
So  did  ;dl  the  laws  of  life — they  know  no  Sabbath. 

Ni>r  need  we  suppose  the  Creator  was  tired.  He  is  not  a  man.  that 
He  should  become  weary,  Is.  40:28.  The  word  rest  in  the  text  nu'ans 
cessation  from  work,  as  in  Rev.  -trS,  ''They  rest  not  day  and  night." 
Tliat  is,  i-ease  not.  But  praise  the  Lord,  as  W(^  woidd  say  ever\  day 
and  everv  niglit  :  though  t  here  is  no  idglit  in  heaven,  nor  any  day 
in    Ih'II. 

The  Lord  ceased  from  all  creative  work  then  for  twenty-four  hours. 
one  revolution  of  the  eart li  on  her  axis;  also  from  making  anything 
during  that  time.  Xot  as  a  man  when  he  has  wrought  12  hours,  did 
the  Lord  need  rest  each  night,  but  worked  24:  hours  e-ich  of  the  six 
days.  The  text  implies  that  He  did.  He  began  each  day's  work  at 
the  beginning  of  each  night.  The  first  thing  in  the  programme  was  t<i 
create  time;  and  it  l>egan  in  darkness.  The  exi)ression  evening  and 
morning,  wherever  repeated  in  the  text,  means,  as  we  would  say,  His 
work  went  on  both  by  day  and  by  night,  and  of  course  His  work  was 
carried  on  alike  all  around  the  earth  and  Ihroughoul  ihe  material 
luiiverse  ;  as  His  providence  goes  on  now  by  dav  and  b\  niiiht  <iver 
cVtM'Vt  hin'i'  which    He  made.       11  is  e\  es  never  sleep  ;     His  e\  elids  never 


111.  THE  STOEY  OF  CREATTOX. 

.slumber.      By  day  niul   hyiiiiiht.    Ills  rye.'^  run   to  and  fro  in   all   the 
eartli — see  ail  liiat  is  done. 

On  the  eio;lith  day  lie  heg'an  His  y-eneral  superintendence  over  all 
tlie  thin<i;s  He  had  created  and  made.  For  since  that  time  uothini!,- 
more  tiian  that  was  needed  in' 1  lie  ordinary  course  of  natiire.  And  it 
would  seem  that  that  was  enou<>'h  to  keej)  even  omniscience,  omni- 
|iresence  and. omnipotence  full  busy.  Just  think  what  a  work  it  would 
be  lo  watch  over  the  human  family  aloni',  to  say  nothino;  of  all  Ihe 
rest,  and  to  provide  for  them  all  !  The  lhou;4:hl  of  it,  in  its  dittVrent 
departments  of  interest,  caused  the  heathen  in  their  weakness  to 
invent  yods  many;  one  or  n)ore  foi-  every  dej)artment  of  human  life. 
Christ  says,  "My  P"'at her  worketh  hitherto,  and  I  work,"  John  5:17. 
lle-riMn  we  should  follow  His  example  of  working'  during  the  six  days, 
a:~  well  as  of  restinij-  on  the  Sabbath. 

Oh,  sweet  Sevetith  day  of  woi-ship  and  of  rest. 

Than  all  more  honored  and  moi-e  blest  : 

For  thou  alone,  did  He  hallow  for  His  own  I 

Hap])y  wast  thou  to  behold  a  world. 

Full  at  ease,  truly  at  rest, 

For  none  thy  repose  did  disturb; 

Neither  thy  worship  interrupt. 

No  seeker  of  wf)rldly  gain  a  wheel  did  move, 

.\oi-  lover  of  pleasure  even  wish 

Thy  sacred  time  to  pj-ofane. 

All  nature,  as  well  as  sentient  life. 

Seemed  to  sympathize  with  thy  hallowed  rest , 

And  thy  holy  worship  tool 

O  thou  parent  and  pattern  of  allSabliaths  since. 

Thou  of  all  Sabbaths  wert  most  blest. 

For  thou  wast  thy  Maker's  rest  I 

P'or  scarcely  more  lilest  was  she, 

W'ho  saw  her  Lord  in  triumph  rise  I 

In  man's  nature  mount  the  skies. 

Having  redeemed  the  nature  He  made. 


CTI AFTER   VIII. 

CREATION'S  WEEK. 

Oh,  happy  first  seven  of  days,  lilesl  were   your  eyes. 

For  naught  of  evil  did  they  see, 

i-Jut  that  only  which  was  good! 

And  the  high  testimony  which  ye  bore. 

Has  since  lo  all  been  handed  down  ; 

And  in  that   happy  knowledgi-, 

Each  of  them  has  marched  to  its  account. 

Sevenfold,  yea  perfectly  blest  were  ye! 

And  you  saw  the  laying  of  the  massivi'  , 

Foundations  of  the  ?naterial  worlds. 

.Vnd  ihi'  rise  of  their  bi^■h  toweriiui'  domes. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATIOX.  41. 

Willi  all  the  beauty  of  Iheir  adorning, 

P^xcoeding-  far  llie  finest  touches  of  art. 

Truly,  you  all  mankind  sliould  tliank, 

For  of  all  the  divisions  of  lime, 

Ye  gave  them  the  happiest — the  week. 

And  it  is  of  Creation's  week,  I  now  would  speak  ; 

Henceforth,  let  all  who  seek  the  origin  of  things  to  know. 

No  more  stoop  low;   but  rising  high. 

Light  their  torclies  at  Creation's  week. 

In  her  bosom  imbedded  are,  precious,  primal  truths, 

\Vhich  faith  and  knowledge  shall  duly  unlock. 

For  the  good  of  all.     J^et  Ihem  out;   let  them  tiy; 

On  their  happy  mission  go,  blest  and  blessing  all   below. 

To  Buddha,  Confucius,  Aristotle,  to  Plato.  / 

None  of  them  need  to  go,  for  ^Creation's  vast  store,     i/   />, 

It's  but  little  that  all  the  heathen  know. 

And  all  those  who  of  late,  have  tried  to  better  their  fate. 

By  .setting  up  the  old  heathen  stake. 

Have  made  a  sad  mistake. 

To  them,  for  this  light,  none  need  to  seek, 

But  let  them  all  come  to  Creation's  week. 

Here  is  the  root,  the  spring,  the  beginning, 

Of  all  terrestrial,  material  things. 

^Vhen  breaks  forth  the  sweet  quiet, 

Of  a  world  faith  in  Sabbath  rest. 

And  the  high-sounding  bells,  to  happy  woi-ship  do  call  us, 

Then  let  us  those  blessings  greet. 

As  the  happy  gifts  of  Creation's  week. 

7\nd  when  in  come  the  toilers,  from  earth's  various  fields, 

The  spade,  the  hoe,  the  plow,  the  saw, 

The  wheel,  the  spindle,  the  counter; 

Or  from  professions  high, 

Let  tliem  remember,  from  Creation's  breast, 

(!()mes  all  this  sweet  "milk"  of  human  rest. 

And  when  down  lies  to  rest, 

Tjie  patient  ox,  the  tired  mule. 

The  weary  camel,  the  jaded  horse. 

And  all  the  toiling  host  of  man's  beastly  st-rvanls. 

Then  let  instinct  as  reason,  rise. 

In  grateful  praises  to  the  skies: 

That   it  is  from  Cieation's  last  and  best. 


42.  THE  STOKY  OF  CREATION. 

They  1-tave  this  Sabbatla,  sweetest  rest. 

Creation's  story  tell;  till  all  sliall  leni-n  it  well. 

Till  no  stupid  intidel,  [Ps.  92  :('),] 

Shall  his  CreatQr  berate, 

While  he,  himself,  believes  in  fate. 

Else  it  remains  to  be  seen,  what  does  he  mean, 

\Mien  he  says  men  are  what  they  must  be. 

Pray  who  made  the  decree,  that  thus  they  should  be? 

So  we  see,  a  believer  in  fate  is  he. 

\Vhen  from  proper  faith  in  (lod  men  depart, 

They  can  believe  anything  in  heart,  [Rom.  1 :21,] 

In  foolish  thing^s  they  will  believe  one  and  all, 

Till  they  will  say,  "there  is  no  God"  at  all,  [Ps.  58:1.] 

Then  tlie  acts  of  Creation  proclaim. 

In  the  great  Creator's  name,  till  all  men  here  below 

Shall  happily  know,  that  He  loves  us  so  !   [John  ti  :lG-o  :1. 

Praise  Him  through  whom  Creation  came ; 

Let  men  and  angrels  bless  His  name. 


CHAPTER  TX. 

RECAPITULATION. 

The  first  chapter  of  (Jenesis  gives  us  a  genenil  account  of  Creation, 
while  the  second  gives  us  some  particulars  not  mentioned  inthefii'st; 
and  both  together  give  us  that  account,  of  His  six  days  of  Creation 
which  the  Lord  saw  tit  to  reveal  unto  us.  All  done  in  six  days. 
Neither  do  I  think  He  took  six  days  becaiise  it  was  strictly  necessary 
for  Plim  so  to  do,  but  for  moral  reasons  He  chose  to  do  so.  One  inoral 
reason  is  more  weighty  with  Him  than  are  ten  physical  reasons. 

It  is  easily  seen  that  in  all  Creation  He  was  working  for  the  good  of 
man  ;  and  the  more  for  his  mor.al  and  spiritual  good.  He  seeth  not 
as  man  seeth.  Blinded  by  covetousness,  man  often  thinks  it  is  bet- 
ter, sometimes,  at  least,  to  work  on  the  Sabbath,  or  a  part  of  it,  or 
take  his  own  pleasure  on  the  Sabbath;  but  Ood  sees  that  it  is  better 
for  him,  if  it  should  so  turn  out,  to  make  less,  have  less  enjoyment 
now,  and  the  rest  of  the  Sabbath  and  its  moral  good.  And  human 
experience  proves  that  in  the  long  run,  mankind  will  have  more  liap- 
plness  to  keep  it  holy  on  (rod's  plan  in  Creation. 

No  doubt  but  He  could  have  done  it  all  perfectl.y  well  in  less  time 
if  He  had  seen  lit;  He  had  but  to  choose  it  to  be  and  it  was;  to  will 
it,  and  it  was  done.  Time  and  space  to  Him  are  naught.  What  e'er 
His  unerring  wisdom  chose.  His  jDower  to  being  brouglit.  He  tells  us 
when  He  did  it,  how  He  did  it,  and  how  much  time  He  put  in  the 
doing  of  it. 

I  believe  the  greatest  of  all  reasons  why  He  took  six  days  was  to 
set  an  example  for  the  cliildren  of  men,  as  Ho  delares  in  (len.    2:2, 


^  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  48. 

and  ill  Ex.  20:11,  and  lliereby  establish  and  enforce  the  Sal)l)ath, 
tluit  we  should  be  followers  of  Him  as  dear  children,  Eph.  5  :1 — always 
do  all  of  our  secular  work  and  business  and  pleasure  in  the  six  work- 
ing days  of  tlie  week,  and  on  the  successive  seventh  flay  rest  from  all 
our  temporal  labors,  secular  interests,  and  desist  from  all  our  worldly 
pleasures.  And  He  further  ordained  that  we  should  devoutly  worship 
Him  both  in  private  and  in  public,  on  every  Sabbath  day.  Of  course 
we  are  to  worship  Him  every  day  in  private,  as  well  as  to  do  all  other 
duties  of  the  week  and  the  other  duties  of  this  day  too,  as  they  may 
arise,  as  are  explained  in  the  Scriptures;  but  this  is  set  apart  espe- 
cially for  the  public  worship  of  all  mankind,  as  is  explained  in  the 
Bible.  And  thereunto  its  holy  rest  is  appointed.  It  is  all  for  man's 
comfort,  health  and  longevity  to  follow  this  example  which  our  Hea- 
venly Father  hath  set  for  us,  and  enjoined  upon  us  all  to  do  as  long- 
as  we  live  in  this  world. 

I  believe  He  had  rather  have  no  human  race  at  all,  than  to  have 
that  race  without  the  ktw,  and  the  keeping  of  the  Sabbath,  and  the 
worship  He  requires  within  its  sacred  hours.  And  but  for  those  who 
do  so,  I  believe  the  world  would  soon  hasten  to  her  appointed  end. 

The  Sabbath  is  a  part  of  His  Creation.  Christ  says,  "The  Sabbatli 
was  made  for  man."  The  Psalmist  says,  "This  is  the  day  the  Lord 
hath  made,"  Ps.  118:24.  He  made  six  days  for  work,  one  for  rest 
and  v.'orship.  And  further,  our  Heavenly  Father  sets  us  an  example 
in  that  He  did  Plis  mental  works  in  the  six  days  and  rested  from  them 
on  the  Sabbath  as  well  as  from  physical  works.  He  established  first 
of  all,  religion  ;  the  Sabbath  next;  then  marriage,  all  on  the  sixth  day. 
Perhaps  some  would  rather  say  religion  was  not  instituted,  that  it  was 
natural  to  man.  It  is  true,  the  first  state  of  man  was  religious,  but 
the  first  thing  enjoined  upon  him  was  obedience  to  God.  His  Creator 
placed  him  under  law  at  once.  And  without  law  to  God  no  man 
should  live.  I  don't  mean  he  ought  to  be  killed  ;  I  mean  it  is  wrong 
for  him  to  live  that  way. 

Obedience  is  the  first  lesson  for  everything,  in  all  nature ;  and  it  is 
right  that  it  should  be.  There  are  no  good  citizens,  or  good  anything 
else,  without  it.  Mankind  brought  up  without  it  are  worse  than  no 
account — are  a  damage  to  tlieir  parents  and  to  the  public ;  except 
now  and  then  one  overcomes — rises  to  princely  nobility,  and  does  a 
good  work. 

Marriage,  like  the  Sabbath,  is  God's  work  and  Ci-eation.  Like  the 
Sabbath,  it  was  made  for  man  ;  and  like  the  Sabbath,  it  belongs  to  all 
mankind.  It  belongs,  in  a  sense,  to  all  Creation.  The  whole  Crea- 
tion would  be  a  failure  without  these  two  parts  of  it,  the  Jachin  and 
the  Boaz  of  the  great  temple  of  nature.  Any  man  can  see  that  it 
would  be  a  failure  without  these.  They  come  within  Creation's 
week's  work.  Every  day's  work  was  preparatory  to  these  two  things 
that  were  done  on  the  sixth  day,  at  or  before  its  close.  Nor  could  His 
work  have  been  complete  without  them.  It  must  have  been  for  moral 
reasons,  rather  than  from  pliysical  necessity,  that  the  far-seeing 
Creator  chose  to  put  into  his  work  of  Creation  just  six  days,  even,  and 
no  more.     And  here  is  the  first  foundation  stone  of  all  morality. 

Let  the  world  adhere  to  the  Lible   statement   on    all    these    things. 


U.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

and  all  else  is  clear.  To  vaiy  from  the  Bible  statement  of  them  is  one 
of  Satan's  methods  to  destroy  the  Sabbath  and  marriage.  If  you  can 
take  away  the  moral  influence  the  Bible  statement  of  all  these  things 
has  upon  mankind,  the  enemy  will  not  object  to  it  at  all.  There  is 
subtleness  in  it  all.  It  came  in  disguise  from  the  devil.  All  state- 
ments contrary  to  the  teaching  of  the  Bible  are  misleading  and  hurt- 
ful. I  believe  the  Creator  had  rather  have  no  human  race  at  all  than 
to  have  that  race  without  the  law  and  the  px-actiee  of  marriage. 

If  any  think  there  is  an  improbability  of  the  works  of  Creation  • 
having  been  done  within  six  natural  days  of  earth's  time,  let  them 
consider  how  long  It  would  take  a  being  of  such  vast  resoui'ces  of 
DOwer  and  skill  as  the  Bible  declares  the  Creator  to  be.  Some  will 
consider  how  long  it  would  take  natural  processes  to  do  it;  but  the 
question  is,  how  much  time  it  would  require  for  Almighty  power  and 
and  infinite  skill  to  do  it. 

A  farmer  will  consider  how  much  work  can  a  boy  do;  how  much 
can  a  man  do.  And  each  is  paid  according  to  what  he  does.  Some 
})ersons  say  it  takes  them  a  long  time  to  write  a  letter,  yet  many  a 
man  has  written  hundreds  of  bnsiness  letters  in  a  day.  We  estimate 
often  how  far  can  a  liorse  travel  in  a  day  without  injury  to  himself, 
but  how  much  quicker  can  a  steam  engine  cover  that  distance.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Creator's  powers,  the  text  allows  Him  time  sufficient  for  it 
ali .  For  instance,  the  sixth  day  began  at  the  set  of  twilight  on  the  fifth 
day.  As  we  would  say,  when  night  set  in- He  began  His  day's  work. 
I  have  often  seen  the  day  hands  in  a  cotton  factory  at  that  time  give 
their  places  to  the  night  hands.  In  a  short  while  the  Creator,  on  His 
previous  methods  of  work,  could  have  the  earth  in  any  locality,  or  all 
over,  ateem  with  merry,  animal  life.  The  crawling  insects  on  the 
ground,  the  flying  ones  on  wing  in  the  atmosphere,  and  the  playful 
animals  rollicking  all  over  the  turf,  all  as  if  instinctively  praising  Him 
for  happy  being;  and  long  before  midnight,  as  we  would  say,  have 
the  perfect  man  in  the  midst.  And  as  He  put  him  in  dominion  over 
them  all,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  get  acquainted  with  his  siibjects, 
and  name  his  possessions.  Hence  the  Lord  liad  tiiem  by  land  and  by 
water,  to  proceed  before  Adam,  so  he  migiit  name  them.  He  could 
have  done  all  that  before  midday.  And  the  making  of  the  woman, 
and  the  instructions  He  gave  them,  and  all  else  connected  with  the 
narrative  of  the  work,  could  have  been  done  before  the  close  of  that 
day.  There  is  nothing  in  the  Bible  account  of  the  six  days'  work  that 
disagrees  with  the  whole  teaching  of  the  Scriptures  on  the  character- 
istics of  Deity.  If  it  all  were  but  man's  invention,  they  certainly  suc- 
ceed well,  for  the  doctrine  of  Deity  and  His  mighty  works  agree  with 
The  Book  from  end  to  end.  Suppose  on  the  contrary,  He  had  taken, 
or  did  take,  a  thousand  years  full  in  each  day's  work,  and  rested  a 
thousand  years  to  illustrate  the  Sabbath  to  mankind,  it  would  not  be 
worth  a  cent  to  any  human  being  to  know  it.  Nor  has  He  revealed 
it;  nor  have  philosophy  and  science  discovei^ed  it;  neither  will  they; 
so  I  think,  at  least. 

Any  one  can  see  that  it  is  far  better  for  us  to  have  it  as  it  is  put 
down  in  the  Bible.  For  take  that  account  as  it  is  given,  with  its 
holv  nuirriaij*'  and  blessed  Sabbath," it  is  one  of  the  very    best    things 


THK  STORY  OF  CRKATIOX.  i'i. 

■\V('  have.  We  coiii<l  scareoly  ji'ot  nlon*^  wilhoul  it.  Deprive  xis  of  Ihnt, 
and  we  will  be  berei'l  indeed.  If  it  wove  buf^  a  hunuiii  composition,  it 
is  one  of  tiie  Imppie.st  the  liuinan  family  lias  ever  liad. 

A\'liat  have  pliilosopliy  and  science  done  to  show  us  the  befijinnin^c 
of  thing's?  Nothincf;  and  they  never  will.  It  does  not  come  with.iii 
their  range.  They  do  not  know  when  tlie  bcii-inniiiiJ-  was.  Neither 
can  they,  by  tlieir  metliods,«find  out. 

Tlie  statement  in  (lenesis  is  grand,  suhlime  and  positive.  No  wri- 
ter dare  make  such  a  statement  without  history  or" something  else  to 
justify  him,  as  he  would  bo  forced  to  acknowledge  he  only  wrote  a 
fiction.  It  bears  upon  its  face  the  conviction  of  its  truthfulness. 
The  Jews  said,  "We  know  that  God  spake  unto  Moses,''  .John  9:29. 
The  record  shows  that  (xod  told  him  to  write  the  other  books  of  the 
Pentateuch,  and  doubtless  he  told  him  to  write  this  too,  and  what  to 
put  in  it.  Or  otherwise  he  was  guided  by  correct  tradition  or  written 
history  of  all  the  facts  from  the  first.  Josephus  says,  "the  people  of 
Pergamus  had  public  records  from  the  days  of  Abi-aham."  There  is 
no  reason  why  Adam  should  not  have  written.  I'm  sure  no  man  can 
prove  that  he  did  not.  No  uninspired  mind,  unaided  by  history  or 
tradition  could  have  conceived  such  a  statement  of  the  various  acts 
of  Creation  as  we  have  in  (Tonesis,  One  of  these  three  things  he  must 
have,  history,  tradition  or  revelation  from  Heaven.  If  he  had  neither 
history  nor  tradition,  then  it  was  purely  a  matter  of  revelation. 

Without  any  of  these,  who  could  have  conceived  such  .a  statement 
of  Creation  in  all  her  departments,  as  is  here  given?  And  it  is  the 
only  one  that  agrees  with  the  Bible  throughout,  alike  in  both  Testa- 
ments on  the  subject;  and  the  only  one  that  will  stand  at  the  judg- 
ment bar  of  common  sense.  Who  would  have  thought  that  on  the 
lirst  day,  after  creating  the  chaotic  bulks  of  the  afterward  solid  bodies, 
He  would  do  nothing  else  with  that  all  powerful  word,  which  them  to 
being  brought,  than  to  watch,  so  to  speak,  their  motions  until  the 
mitldle  of  that  day,  t^hen  clothe  them  with  a  material  light  exactly 
suited  to  them  in  all^of  their  offices- and  relations,  and  when  the  day 
marked  four  and  twoTity  hours  of  our  time,  to  call  it  to  halt,  and  give 
place  to  the  evening  of  the  second  day — its  beginning,  or  the  second 
night,  coiinting  the  day  by  her  revolutions  on  her  axis ;  having  made 
the  earth  just  of  that  size  on  purpose  that  her  days  should  be  24 
hours  long,  fixing  from  the  first  the  perpetual  bounds  of  day  and 
night;  and  having  given  her  the  exact  momentiim,  and-such  relations 
to  the  sun  a,nd  other  bodies,  that  her  diurnal  revolutions  should  be 
permanently  24  hours  in  length  of  time;  putting  her  in  that  position 
in  space  that  would  cause  her  to  make  her  annual  revolutions  around 
the  sun  so  as  to  register  the  months,  the  four  seasons  and  the  year. 
That  He  would  take  all  of  the  second  day  to  furnish  and  adjust 
atmospheres  and  skies  for  the  earth  and  her  attendant  worlds.  Tliat 
He  would  let  the  whole  earth  lie  under  water  until  the  third  day; 
and  that  He  would  take  a  whole  day  in  making  the  dry  land  and  the 
seas,  and  garnishing  the  arable  part  of  the  earth  with  all  manner  of 
vegetable  growth  !  And  who  would  have  thought  He  would  wait  until 
the  fourth  day  to  produce  sunlight ;  and  that  He  would  have  taken 
the  v.'hole  of  that  day  in  furnishing  light  and  heat  for  the  sun,  moon 


46.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

and  stars,  when  He  had  before  created  a  universe  of  light  at  a  word ! 
And  when  too,  there  remained  so  much  work  to  be  done  on  the  two 
only  remaining  days  to  work  to  fill  out  His  plan  !  Who  would  have 
thought  He  would  have  waited  until  the  fiftli  day  before  making  any 
living  creature;  and  that  He  would  then  begin  with  the  water;  and 
that  He  would  give  the  waters  power  to  stock  the  waters  with  sen- 
tient life — to  bring  them  both  in  all  their  perfection  and  beauty — and 
flying  fowl  likewise?  That  He  would  wait  until  the  beginning  of  the 
sixth  day  before  creating  the  land  animals;  and  that  He  would  bring 
them  directly  out  of  the  ground  as  if  the  earth  herself  had  generative 
power?  And  after  that  that  the  womb  of  the  earth  and  of  tlie  waters 
be  forever  closed ;  so  that  henceforth  all  animals  sliould  come  from 
parents;  and  plants  from  seed,  or  slips,  buds  or  grafts!  That  on  the 
sixth  day  he  would  make  man  ;  and  that  this  should  be  the  first  work 
His  hands  should  touch ;  that  He  would  take  his  body  out  of  the 
ground,  breathe  his  life  in  at  his  nostrils;  that  his  was  the  only  body 
formed  without  life,  and  the  life  given  it  afterward;  that  woman  was 
taken  out  of  man !  That  all  should  be  done  in  six  days ;  that  He 
would  rest  on  the  seventh  day;  that  He  should  exemplify  and  ordain 
the  holy  Sabbath  for  man's  use  and  happiness.  And  doubtless  tak- 
ing full  six  days  for  moi'al  reasons. 

The  human  mind  of  itself  could  not  have  produced  such  a  declara- 
tion of  these  things  as  we  find  liere.  We  know  without  this  it  has  not 
been  since  done.  Compared  with  this  all  that  men  have  conceived 
are  mere  vagaries.  The  weakest  point  in  any  of  them  is  the  effort  to 
desoul  mankind.  All  merely  human  conceptions  of  it  leave  morality 
out  of  the  question — a  proof  that  this  must  be  Divine.  It  carries  that 
likeness  upon  its  face.  The  conclusion  is,  it  was  inspired  of  God ; 
or  I'evealed  to  Adam  by  the  Creator,  and  handed  down  by  oral 
instruction,  or  reduced  to  writing  from  the  first. 

We  do  not  know  when  men  first  learned  to  write ;  having  to  be 
taught  by  Him  who  gave  him  such  a  rich  verbal  language  at 
first,  (Gen.  1 :26,)  the  strongest  supposition  is  He  would  have  learned 
it  to  him  at  his  earliest  need.  The  highest  probability  is,  the  art  of 
writing  was  known  to  mankind  from  Adam  all  along  to  this  time. 

I  know  of  no  philosopher  or  scientist  that  ever  conjectured  that 
man's  body  at  first  came  out  of  the  ground;  nor  did  Moses.  God 
revealed  it  to  him,  or  he  got  it  by  tradition,  or  history.  Doubtless 
they  all  knew  it  in  the  first  ages  as  taught  at  first  by  the  Creator 
Himself,  Gen.  3:19-28.  We  may  observe  of  ourselves  that  human 
bodies  de(;ompose  after  death  and  go  to  the  earth ;  but  no  man  crea- 
ted the  tliought  that  the  human  body  was  at  first  taken  out  of  the 
ground.  Tlie  first  and  the  last  of  the  inspired  writers  declare  it  as 
revealed  from  Heaven.  Those  who  try  to  get  along  without  the  Bible 
want  to  say  man  came  from  the  lower  animals.  Neither  did  any  man 
conceive  the  thought  of  the  resurrection  from  the  dead — a  second 
coming  out  of  the  dust  of  the  ground — like  the  first,  in  creation,  it  is 
a  God-given  truth.  Both  are  foreign  from  all  of  man's  suppositions 
on  these  subjects. 

Some  think  it  is  too  much  for  Him  to  raise  up  the  same  body,  but 
what  He  promises  to  do  is  more  than  that,  for  He  declares  it  sliall  be 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  47. 

raisod  an  immortal  body — a  Spiritual  body — in  the  likeness  of  that 
glorious  body  in  which  Christ  was  raisod  up  from  the  dead.  He  who 
gathered  it  at  tirst,  and  long  nourished  it  with  the  products  of  every 
zone  of  earth,  from  all  lands  and  from  all  seas,  can  as  easily  gather  its 
elements  again  from  as  many  sources.  And  He  who  makes  every 
spirit  immortal  can  as  easily  make  that  resurrected  body  immortal. 

It  is  so  common  for  us  to  see  fire,  we  do  not  think  about  the  mys- 
tery of  it.  Think  of  a  great  bulk  of  combustible  matter — if  you 
touch  it  you  feel  it  is  cold.  Xow  put  a  match  to  it — it  is  all  ablaze — 
the  smoke  rapidly  escapes,  carrying  much  of  that  decomposing  mat- 
ter away  into  the  atmosphere.  When  the  process  is  ended,  you  see 
no  remains  except  the  ashes,  coals  and  whatever  failed  to  be  con- 
sumed, which  is  very  small  to  what  was  there  before.  Yet  all  that 
matter  is  existing  in  other  forms ;  none  of  it  is  destroj'ed.  But  no 
man  can  bring  it  back  as  it  was.  Yet  the  Creator  can.  So  is  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  And  it  is  not  more  mysterious  than  what  is 
going  on  in  our  bodies  every  day. 

The  thought  of  man's  body  at  first  coming  out  of  the  ground,  and 
that  could  not  have  been  by  evolution,  like  the  thought  of  his  dead 
body  coming  back  again  at  the  last  day,  is  not  at  all  a  natural 
thought  to  human  genius.  We  are  entirely  indebted  to  Revelation 
for  them  both.  If  He  had  not  revealed  them  we  could,  not  have 
known  them.  Just  so  in  regard  to  the  human  soul.  He  revealed  its 
origin  and  its  destiny. 

One  among  the  many  evidences  of  the  inspiration  of  Moses  is  this : 
Every  mind  outside  of  the  Bible  that  has  undertaken  to  account  for 
existence  has  taken  a  different  course  to  what  he  did.  And  his  being 
so  moral,  as  well  as  wise,  and  so  super-human,  commends  itself  at 
once  to  all  thoughtful  students  as  coming  from  the  Creator.  He  was 
God's  own  historian,  as  well  as  law  giver  to  men.  He  chose  and 
qualified  him  for  it — gave  him  the  facts.  With  God  he  could  have 
done  it.  And  no  other  man  but  him  has  done  it.  Nor  is  it  at  all 
probable  that  any  man  would  study  up  a  fiction  and  make  out  the 
first  born  into  this  world  a  murderer.  Moses  stated  truth  "stranger 
than  fiction."  He  was  guided  by  the  facts — given  to  him  in  some 
way  or  other. 

Some  say  that  Shakespeare  was  the  greatest  of  English  jjoets,  but 
the  least  original.  Moses  was  not  at  all  original.  He  did  not  create 
a  thing.  But  like  Confucius  he  taught  what  he  learned  from  the 
past.  For  the  most  of  that  which  he  wrote  he  received  directly  from 
the  Lord.  The  rest  was  from  those  t^w>s«  who  lived  before  him  and 
was  arranged  in  his  mind  and  expressed  by  the  inspiration  of  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

All  that  is  true  in  the  statements  of  the  heathen  on  creation,  is 
taken  from  this.  For  the  facts  of  creation  of  the  Garden  of  Eden,  of 
the  temptation,  of  the  serpent,  of  the  fall  of  man,  of  the  flood,  the 
overthi'ow  of  the  Tower  of  Babel,  the  dispersion  of  mankind  thence, 
and  the  split  of  man's  speech  into  different  dialects,  were  known 
among  all  nations.  Handed  down  by  tradition,  if  not  by  history,  and 
many  fragments  of    them  remain  vinto   tliis  day,  and    are  strong  pre- 


i«.  THK  STORY  OF  OHEATIOX. 

sumptive  proof  of   tlie   truthfulness  of   all    these  statements  on   the 
same  subjects  in  the  Bible. 


CHAPTER  X. 

UNJVERSAL    BEING. 

Thk  universal  system  of  all  tilings  as  revealed  in  the  Bibie  I  un- 
derstand to  be  this :  First  of  all  God,  The  Father.  From  Him,  in 
some  way  nnrevealed  to  lis,  proceeded  God  the  Son.  The  only  be- 
gotten of  the  Father.  It  is  so  taught  by  both  the  Father  and  the  Son 
in  Scripture.  And  it  is  to  be  understood  that  this  is  what  is  meant 
in  Rev.  o:-!:.  "Jesus  Christ  the  beginning  of  the  creation  of  God." 
Xot  that  He  is  a  created  being.  But  as  we  are  said  to  he  created  as 
we  are  born  into  the  world,  so  in  this  sense  he  is  called  a  creation  of 
God  because  He  is  the  first  begotten  of  God  out  of  the  Divine  nature, 
then  and  previously  existing,  and  in  that  nature  had  co-eternitjMvith 
the  Father.  He  is  before  all  things  except  the  Father;  and  is  next 
to  the  Fatlier.  To  this  St.  Paul  alludes.  Col.  1:15,  when  he  says : 
"He  is  before  all  things,  and  all  are  below  Him  except  The  Father." 
The  Father  then  imparted  to  Him  His  own  nature  in  all  of  its  full- 
ness of  being,  and  in  all  of  its  peculiar  attributes.  The  difference 
l>etween  them  in  the  essential  Divine  nature  is  this:  As  an  earthly 
Father  imparts  to  his  son  his  nature  in  full,  and  yet  loses  none  of 
that  nature  himself,  so  the  Father  did  not  lose  any  of  the  fullness  of 
the  Divine  nature  by  imparting  its  fullness  to  His  Son.  And  as  a  father 
is  existing  before  his  son,  so  God  the  Father  existed  before  God  the 
Son.  But  as  a  son  is  of  the  same  nature  of  his  father,  so  God  the  Son 
and  God  the  Father  have  the  same  nature.  The  Father  is  first,  but 
the  Son  is  equal  iri  every  other  sense. 

As  the  Redeemer  of  men,  for  the  time  being,  "He  was  made  a  lit- 
tle lower' than  the  angels,"  Heb.  2:1).  A]3poared  in  man's  estate, 
(Phil.  2  :r)-ll,)  but  afterward  exalted  above  all  except  the  Father, 

And  from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  in  a  way  equally  mysterious, 
proceeded  the  Spirit  of  God.  Having  the  Divine  nature  in  all  of  its 
fullness  in  the  same  sense  as  it  exists  in  the  Father  and  the  Son,  but 
is  the  third  person  in  the  great  Godhead.  Co-eternal  with  them,  as 
out  of  that  Divine  nature  previously  existing,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Son.  The  Divine  nature  is  a  law  unto  itself ;  and  according  to  the 
will  of  the  Father,  resolved  itself  into  the  three  Divine  personalities 
holding  in  themselves  the  essentiaf  unity  of  the  One  God.  They  have 
equal  l^eing,  ]jower  and  glory  together,  and  together  constitute  that 
perfect  Deity  revealed  in  the  Seriptupes  of  truth.  Are  one  being,  one 
God ;  revealed  in  the  Bible — borne  witness  to  in  all  nature. 

(jrod  in  any  and  in  all  of  the  tliree  persons  of  the  Godhead  is  spoken 
of  throughout  the  Scriptures  in  the  masculine  gender;  but  gender 
does  not  belong  to  the  Divine  Being.  It  is  only  in  i^roof  of  the  per- 
sonalit,y  of  each  of  them.  But  in  tlie  human  nature,  Jesus  was  per- 
fectly human,  in  Spirit,  soul  and  body;  epitomized  in  Himself  both 
sexes — and  every  individual  of  man's  race,  so  as  to  represent  them  all 
in  what  He  did,  and  suffered  for  mankind. 


TlIK  HTOKY  OF  OIlKwVTlON.  4<). 

Wlion  it  is  suid  man  was  crcalod  in  the  ima^'e  of  (rod,  it  has  no  ref- 
erence to  his  physical  natiu-e.  Yet  he  is  in  the  ima^'P  of  Ood  as  a 
Trinity  spirit,  soul  and  body,  (Thes,  i):2'6,)  in  the  one  being,  as  God 
is  three  in  one,  a  Trinity.  The  iirst  creative  act  of  this  great  (xod- 
head  was  to  make  that  heaven  which  is  entirely  Spiritual.  As  every 
one  who  wishes  to  run  a  successful  business  first  plants  himself  for 
that  business,  so  the  Deity  needed  first  of  all  a  centre  of  operation — a 
home — so  to  speak.  This  heaven,  therefore,  in  all  of  its  splendid 
beauties  and  superb  glories,  was  first  prepared  for  the  imlatial  home 
of  the  Divine  Being;  not  as  tlie  heathen  say,  "the  home  of  the  (rods." 

They  had  a  vague  idea  of  it,  but  their  minds  were  too  weak,  and  their 
hearts  too  gross,  to  express  it,  or  to  giifis^  it  without  resorting  to 
material  things.  God  pitied  them,  and  winked  at  the  sin  of  it, 
(Acts  17  :80,)  for  the  time  being ;  but  since  the  fullness  of  gospel  light 
is  given,  He  no  more  winks  at  the  sin  of  it,  v.  81. 

His  next  creative  act  was  to  bring  forth  the  angels..  The  Deity 
needed  servants ;  they  were  created  to  serve  in  His  presence ;  for  His 
glory  were  those  first  born  sons  of  light  brought  forth.  Nor  can  I  tell 
you  what  He  made  them  out  of,  no  more  than  I  can  tell  you  what 
His  throne  is  made  of;  or  out  of  what  all  matter  is  formed.  Is  it 
elernity?  Is  it  nothing?  Is  it  non-existence?  All,  all  is  of  God.  To 
create  is  the  first  copy,  the  first  production.  Before  that  we  find 
nothing  but  God.     Eternity  is  his  habitation.  Is.  57:15. 

The  angels  in  Scripture  are  mentioned  as  in  the  masculine  gender, 
but  it  is  figuratively  ascribed.  They  have  no  gender ;  cannot  multi- 
ply themselves,  Luke  20:85-86.  Their  number  has  never  been  in- 
creased from  the  first. 

The  next  step  in  Creation  was  to  bring  forth  these  worlds  which  we 
see.  The  Scriptures  declare  that  the  Son  of  God  and  the  angels  ex- 
isted before  the  Creation  we  now  speak  of,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
took  part  in  that  Creation.  Then  before  time  was,  there  was  Deity, 
Heaven  and  Holy  Angels.  They  teach  that  (Ixod  created  all  things — 
in  this  state  of  being — by  Jesus  Christ — then  in  His  purely  Spiritual, 
Divine  nature,  and  that  in  Him  all  things  consist,  Col.  1  :15-17,  Heb. 
1 :2.     He  was  therefore  the  chief  actor  in  what  we  call  Creation. 

This  brought  to  Him  a  great  name  throughout  all  Heaven.  It 
brf)ught,  too,  great  wealth  to  the  throne  of  God.  And  to  the  Son  of 
(Jod  it  brought  riches  of  glory,  2  Cor.  8  :9.  Lucifer,  one  of  the  bright- 
est, and  one  of  the  highest  in  rank,  of  the  angels,  seeing  all  this, 
envied  tlie  Son  of  God,  and  gave  way  to  an  unholy  ambition  which 
j^olluted  his  whole  nature  as  an  eating  canker  doth  corrupt,  2  Tim. 
2:17.  He  aspired  to  independence  ;  lie  coveted  dominion.  He  said  : 
"I  will  sit  up  on  the  sides  of  the  north;  I  will  be  equal  to. the  Most 
High,"  Is.  U:12-18. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  tliat  the  most  of  the  evils  that  have  afflicted 
mankind  have  been  hatched  at  the  north,  Jer.  1:11-15,  -1  :G  and  50:8. 
The  reader  will  think  of  the  Vandals  and  other  northern  hordes  that 
broke  down  Roman  civilization.  And  now  arisetli  moral  darkness  at 
the  north,  to  spread  over  otherwise  happy  lands  ;  but  the  bright  shin- 
ing of  the  true  Gospel  light  at  the  south  shall  repel  it ;  it  shall  not 
settle  upon  her  liappy  shores: 


^U.  THE  STORY-  OF  CREATION. 

For  there  the  trutli  sliall  Jive  and  shine, 
Blessing-  all  human  kind. 

Lucifer's  fall  was  the  be^'inning  of  evil;  neither  was  tlie  Ci'eator 
responsible  for  it.  At  least  tJiree  of  the  inspired  writers  speak  of  that , 
the  first  of  all  sins,  and  of  its  results;  and  it  is  certainly  true.  And 
shall  we  wonder  that  sin  entered  Eden  when  it  had  already  had  a 
higher  source — nearer  the  throne  of  God  itself?  In  the  Gospel  of 
John  8:44  we  read  of  the  original  lusts  of  the  devil,  and  that  is  in 
close  agreement  with  1  Tim.  ()  :10.  And  in  1  John  8  :8,  it  is  stated 
"the  devil  sinneth  from  the  beginning.  Then  that  was  the  origin  of 
all  evil.  This  was  known  as  far  back  as  the  days  Job;  for  there  it  is 
said  :      "His  angels  Pie  charged  with  folly.''  4:18. 

"The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil.''  Of  course  there  was 
no  material  money  in  Heaven,  but  money  stands  for  wealth  ;  it  repre- 
sents prosperity;  it  brings  honor,  power  and  dominion,  more  or  less; 
these  are  the  things  Lucifer  lusted  for.  Among  men,  at  least,  it  has 
in  it  more  orbit,  the  thing  Lucifer  coveted.  And  the  love  of  it,  or 
that  which  it  stands  for  was  tJio  first  root  out  of  which  all  other  evils 
have  since  grovrn. 

Lucifer  raised  a  rebellion,  which  brought  on  a  state  of  things  com- 
parable to  war  among  men,  2  Pot.  2  :4,  Jude  sixth  verse.  As  it  is  writ- 
ton,  "there  was  war  in  Heaven."  And  Lucifer,  now  called  Satan,  the 
adversary  and  the  devil,  and  his  host  were  cast  out.  Hence  it  is  said, 
"woe  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  for  the  devil  has  come  down 
unto  you,"  Rev.  12:12.  Doubtless  the  Revelator  had  this  scene  in 
mind  when  he  wrote  that  which  should  have  a  parallel  with  it  in  its 
fulfillment.  This  scene  in  Heaven  occurred  soon  after  the  creation 
of  this  world,  but  before  sin  entered  it.  Of  course  there  were  no  "in- 
habitants of  earth"  then  except  Adam  an  Eve,  but  it  was  a  prophetic 
warning  to  them  and  their  posterity.  Satan  hastened  on  to  this 
world  to  attack  the  Son  of  God  in  this  part  of  His  vast  dominions. 
In  tempting  Adam  and  Eve  to  sin,  his  intention  was  to  bring  all  the 
displeasure  upon  the  Son  of  (xod  he  could,  as  well  as  to  do  all  the 
mischief  to  those  he  found  to  be  happj'  that  he  could;  for  that  is  all 
the  pleasure  he  has  had  since  his  dreadful  fall. 

And  he  hastened  the  more  for  fear  his  time  should  be  limit.ed;  that 
as  he  had  })een  cast  out  of  Heaven  he  might  be  cast  out  of  this  world 
too.     He  was,  and  is  yet,  a  subtle  diplomat. 

The  next  step  in  Creation  was  to  provide  territory  for  those  who 
now  had  to  be  banished  from  Heaven.  The  Lord  had  not  prepared 
for  this  event,  for  He  never  does  anything  before  the  time,  but  every- 
thing at  the  right  time.  It  was  necessary  n^jw,  but  not  before,  to 
create  what  in  His  government  is  called  Hell. 

He  went  outside  of  all  existing  creation  to  make  space  for  it.  .And 
it  was  so  fixed  that  none  of  them  could  ever  get  ba,ck  to  Heaven. 
Luke  16:2G.  But  they  are  permitted  to  have  access  to  us  in  this 
world;  yet  Hell  is  not  accessible  to  any  human  beings,  unless  they 
first,  as  it  were,  evolve  themselves  into  devils  ;  for  it  vv^as  made  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels."     Matt.  25:41. 

An  astronomical  e:i!culali>)n  savs :     "Had    Adam  and    Eve  started 


THE  STORY  OF  OJJEATION.  51. 

oil  a  railway  (o  ;4'()  from  Neptune  to  tlie  sun,  at  tiie  rale  of  iifly  miles 
an  hour,  they  woul.d  not  yet  have  arrived  there,  for  this  planet,  at  the 
above  rate,  is  moi-e  than  (),0(X)  years  from  the  cenler  of  our  system ;  *> 
yet  wlien  the  angel  Gabriel  was  dispatched  from  Heaven  to  the  jiro- 
phet  Daniel  in  Baliylon,  to  inform  him  of  the  happy  success  of  his 
fasting  and  prayer,  he  covered  the  distance  from  Heaven  to  earth  in 
six  liours'  flight.  That  is  supposing  that  Daniel  began  his  prayer  at 
nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  tlie  time  of  the  morning  sacrifice,  which  is  proba- 
l)le,  and  the  angel  began  his  flight  as  soon,  as  he  informs  Daniel, 
9:28,  and  readied  him  about  the  time  of  the  evening  oblation,  at  H 
o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  same  day.  So  with  all  of  our  modern  improve- 
ments, we  have  not  near  equaled  angelic  speed.  If  the  Almighty 
wanted  to  marshal  the  armies  of  the  skies,  He  could  speed  them  forth 
far  more  rapidly  than  any  earthly  army  can  be  moved  today. 

So  the  great  distances  between  us  and  the  remotest  stars  could  be 
quickly  crossed  by  angel  wings.  And  it  seems  it  would  be  a  real  treat 
to  a  soul  unfettered  to  mount  aloft  and  visit  them,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  grand  centre  of  all,  the  home  of  the  Blest.  Yet  none  can  pass 
from  Heaven  to  Hell. 

Hell  is  outside  all  the  lighted  pgpts  of  Creation.  No  moon,  nor  Ci 
star,  nor  sun,  ever  shines  upon  it.  Neither  the  light  of  a  moment's 
hope  of  escaping  thence  ever  clieers  any  of  those  regions  of  despair; 
nor  is  any  good  news  ever  proclaimed  tliere.  Heaven  has  nothing  to 
offer  them.  It  was  a  pity  to  see  such  a  despairing  fall;  but  the 
greater  the  previous  bight,  the  moi*8  painful  is  the  fall. 

It  is  essentially  a  world  of  darkness.  One  of  its  great  divisions  is 
called  the  Lake  of  fire.  Its  depth  is  shallow,  however,  seldom  as 
much  as  five  feet;  but  its  dimensions  of  surface  are  exceeding  great. 
But  the  unmeasured  darkness  above  it  is  so  great  that  the  glow^  of 
that  fire  rises  but  a  little  above  the  lighted  surface ;  and  so  thick  is 
the  wretched  darkness  all  around  its  shores  that  the  glow  of  the  burn- 
ing lake  repels  it  but  a  little;  so  an  unfortunate  traveler  lost  in  that 
country  might  get  quite  to  its  verge  before  he  would  know  it. 

Its  next  great  division  is  called  the  abyss,  or  the  bottomless  pit. 
This  has  neither  light  nor  fire,  but  a  plenty  of  painful  smoke  from 
the  lake  that  burns  with  fire  and  brimstone.  It  is  much  like  an  old, 
dark  ocean  bed  whose  waters  had  deserted  it.  AIL  the  rest  of  this 
dreadful  world — the  unlimited  dismal,  black  regions,  stretching  out 
all  over  its  northern  bounds — is  called  outer  darkness.  It  takes  all  of 
these  to  make  the  one  awful  hell  of  the  Bible.  For  there  we  read  some 
are  cast  into  outer  darkness,  Matt.  22  :13,  that  some  are  cast  into  the 
bottomless  pit,  Rev.  20:8,,  while  others  shall  have  their  part  in  the 
lake  tliat  burnetii  with  fire  and  brimstone.  Rev.  21 :8.  These  all  have 
damnation;  yet  some  have  greater  damnation,  Mark  12:40.  Some 
blackness  of  darkness,  some  smoke  of  torment,  some  flames  of  tor- 
ment; while  all  are  ]5unished,  who  have  the  terrible  calamity  to  their 
immortality  to  find  themselves  thei'e,  with  eternal  damnation,  accord- 
ing as  their  deeds  have  been. 

Some  think  these  are  figures  to  represent  severe  sufferings,  Init  that 
could  not  relieve  tlie  dreadful  sitAiation  at  all,  for  the  types  are  always 
lesh',  than  their  antitypes.     Some,  too,  think  Heaven  is  a  state,  rather 


52r  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

than  11  place.  It  occurs  to  me  that  it  is  a  most  blessed  place  of  hap- 
hiness,  and  to  enjoy  it,  we  must  liave  the  state  of  happiness  in 
ourselves. 

Whether  those  Spiritual  worlds  revolve  or  not,  we  are  not  informed. 
They  are  invisible  to  our  natural  sight;  and  not  less  so  with  all  of 
man's  artificial  helps.  Hell  is  so  fussy,  so  uprorious,  so  out  of  har- 
mony with  all  other  Creation,  that  it  has  no  other  world  to  form  a 
system  with  it;  yet  there  may  be  some  influence  that  causes  it  to 
revolve.  As  every  government  carries  its  prisons  along  with  it,  so  may 
hell  revolve,  in  some  way,  along  with  revolving  Creation — in  the  dis- 
tant outside  darkness.  St.  John,  in  speaking  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
says,  "the  City  lieth  foursquare."  If  it  is  Heaven,  or  a  type  of 
Heaven,  it  may  be  that  Heaven  is  stationary,  and  the  only  world 
that  does  not  move  ;  and  all  the  rest  are  moving  around  her ;  and  the 
seat  of  the  great  Deity  in  the  center  of  all  His  possessions. 

Hell  was  located  in  the  far  away  northern  regions,  outside  of  all 
previous  Creation.  So  Lucifer  got  to  "sit  in  the  sides  of  the  north," 
Is.  1J::12-18,  but  not  as  he  expected.  So  all  who  oppose  the  Son  of 
(fod  will  get  something  they  did  not  expect.  It  is  a  vain  thing  for 
any  to  oppose  Him. 

Some  there  be  who  would,  if  they  could,  have  a  gospel  without  any 
penalties.  But  such  a  thing  cannot  be;  for  there  must  of  necessity 
be  an  opposite.  "The  law  is  the  strength  of  sin,"  1  Cor.  15:56.  It 
enables,  like  cause  and  effect,  in  the  material  world,  sin  to  punish 
itself,  and  virtue  to  reward  herself.  Yet  it  is  the  Lord  that  rewards 
every  good  deed,  and  punishes  every  bad  act.  But  so  surely,  and  so 
closely,  is  misery  connected  with  every  act  of  sin,  that  sin  seems  to 
execute  its  own  penalty.  Now  one  may  enjoy  what  are  called  sinful 
pleasures,  but  soon  the  pleasure  is  gone,  not  to  return  again,  while  has 
come  the  misery,  and  that  to  stay.  And  happiness  is  so  linked  with 
every  virtuous  deed,  every  good  act,  that  virtue  appears  to  reward 
herself.  As  when  we  see  the  rain  falling  it  seems  to  rain  itself;  and 
when  it  is  dry  it  appears  to  stay  dry  itself.  Yet  the  Bible  ascribes 
both  to  the  Lord.  And  it  is  the  happier  to  accept  both  conditions  as 
from  His  providence.  Then  faith  is  thankful  to  Him  all  day  long; 
and  daily,  and  nightly,  her  cup  is  full  of  blessing.  We  have  set  forth 
what  I  understand  to  be  the  true  chain  of  being. 

Whether  the  Lord  intended  for  Heaven  when  He  created  it,  to  be 
the  home  of  the  faithful  of  men  or  not,  we  are  not  informed.  Or 
whether  He  intended  for  hell  to  be  the  final  abode  of  the  unfaithful 
of  earth,  we  are  neither  informed.  But  we  see  from  the  Bible  He  is 
always  equal  to  every  emergency  that  may  arise.  So  it  was  easy  to 
resolve  those  places  into  these  uses  when  the  necessity  arose  in 
regard  to  the  final  disposition  of  the  human  family.  Then,  oh,  my 
friend,  do  not  for  any  reason  doubt  that  there  is  a  hell,  both  misera- 
ble and  eternal ;  and  a  Heaven  everlasting  and  most  blessed.  The 
Bible  teaches  us  there  are  both,  but  does  not  give  us  their  eras. 

As  the  Lord  had  spared  no  moans  to  make  Heaven  glorious  and 
happy;  and  all  things  in  this  world  beautiful  and  good,  so  He  now 
spares  nothing  t:)  make  hell  hideous,  horrible,  unspeakably  misera- 
ble.    As  the  happiness  of  Heaven  cniuiot    be  told  in    human  speech, 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  58. 

so  none  can  tell  the  miseries  of  hell.  And  as  the  Script  ures  say,  il 
was  "prepared  4'or  rhe  devil  and  his  an<>:els.""  then  don't  h't  us  intrude 
on  them.  \ 

How  much  ji'rander  and  more  heautit'ul,  is  that  system  of  all  life  set 
forth  in  the  lioly  Scriptures  of  truth  than  any  invented  by  man! 

And  if  it  were  only  a  product  of  human  j>'enius,  it  is  a  most  singular 
fact  that  these  Hebrews  could  excel  all  other  people  so  far — even  all 
the  moderns  as  well  as  the  ancients — on  this,  and  its  eo<ijnale 
subjects. 

It  does  seem  that  their  learned  masters,  the  Egyptians,  could  have 
excelled  those  they  had  had  in  slavery  for  more  than  two  centuries. 
But  so  far  as  the  world  ever  equaling  it,  the  best  thoughts  anywhere 
else  to  be  found  on  this  siil:)jec{  and  its  collaterals,  are  l)ut  fragments 
of  this,  the  true  copy. 

KXD  or  PART  OXE. 


54.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

PART    TWO. 


CHAPTER  I. 

vakiotth;  akgtimentk  drawn  ftiom  thk  natural  worlt),  to  show  thk 
agrkkment  ol'  naturio  avith  thk  bible. 

I(3F  A  man  will  think  he  shall  see  in  liimself  something  that  responds 
%  to  the  teaching  oj  the  Bible.  For  instance,  we  take  our  food  into 
our  stomachs,  go  to  work,  business  or  pleasure,  and  think  but  little, 
or  nothing  about  it,  and  in  nature's  laboratory  it  .is  converted  into 
l)lood,  which  through  the  day  supports  our  systems,  and  at  night 
while  we  rest  and  sleep,  she  carries  on  her  work  within  our  systems 
to  replace  the  waste  we  sustained  by  our  day's  exercise,  especially  in 
our  osseous  systems.  Hence  the  sobriquet,  "sleep,  nature's  sweet 
restoi'er." 

And  a  corresponding  work  is  carried  on  in  all  forms  of  sentient  life; 
and  in  phmt  life  also.  They  all  have  to  feed,  digest,  rest  and  sleep, 
and  lie  renewed  for  the  next  da^^. 

Now,  it  takes  twenty-four  hours  full  to  replenish  the  waste  we  sus- 
tain during  a  day's  exercise,  which  is  the  time  of  one  revolution  of 
the  earth  on  her  axis.  It  takes  a  complete  turn  of  that  great  wheel 
to  produce  that  efi'ect  in  every  living  thing  on  her  surface ;  which 
revolution  was  provided  for,  with  all  of  its  happy  results,  on  the 
first  day  of  Creation  ;  and  its  correspondence  is  seen  in  all  nature 
today.  It  is  quite  as  fortunate  for  us  to  have  the  night  and  her  ben- 
efits, as  it  is  to  have  the  day.  But  if  man  had  been  consulted  as  to 
how  he  would  have  it,  perhaps  he  would  have  said,  give  me  all  day, 
and  no  night. 

In  this  natural  process  we  have  this  great  truth  illustrated  also. 
As  tired,  wasted  nature,  in  us  is  restored  by  the  night's  rest  {wh4- 
and  sleep,  so  after  that  period  in  our  being,  called  the  long  sleep  of 
death,  will  come  forth  the  restored  body  in  Resurrection's  morn. 

To  enhance  our  happiness  He  has  not  only  divided  our  lives  into 
days,  but  also  into  weeks,  months  and  years.  The  moon  naturally 
indicates  the  weeks  and  the  months;  the  earth  and  the  sun  the  days 
and  the  years,  while  the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac  indicate  the 'four 
seasons  and  the  circulation  of  the  blood  in  our  systems,  and  of  all 
animals  likewise. 

And  whe'n  we  have  wrought  through  the  six  work  days  of  the  week 
witli  hands  or  minds  we  naturally  need  the  Sabbath  rest  which  was 
provided  for  us  in  Creation's 'hour.  All  who  have  wrought  tliroufrh 
the  week  need  this  rest;  and  not  lo  do  so  is  a  sin  ((ren.  8  :19,)  in  any. 
They  wdio  do  not  work,  with  mind  or  hand,  have  no  right  to  eat,  "2 
Thes.  8 :!(.).  Tired  nature  calls  for  this  rest.  Nor  can  any  who  work 
in  body  or  mind  afford  to  do  without  it.  The  beasts  of  burden  need 
it  too.  And  since  they  are  subjected  to  mati's  service  His  law  claims 
it  for  them,  Ex.  20:10. 

And  it  is  needed  by  all  mankind  also  for  their  soul's  benefit.  To 
replace  the  waste  in  morality,  and  in  spirituality,  that  they  liave  suf- 


THE  STORY  OF  CKEATIOX.  55. 

t'cM'cd  (luring  the  week — and  the  more  by  contact  witli  I  lie  world. 

Oh  sweet  rest,  for  body,  intellect  and  spirit ! 

So  we  see  the  story  of  Creation  in  the  concrete  all  around  us,  and 
in  us,  today;  in  initure  and  in  ourselves  too,  plainly  writ;  and  that 
accordina;  to  the  Hil)le  account  of  it.  In  the  voice  of  nature  today, 
as  in  Revelation,  her  proof  is  clear. 


CHAPTER   IT. 


I  DARKS.w  if  Adam  hud  been  seen  by  any  of   us    in  the  day  of    his  ' 

creation,  he  would  have  appeared  as  if  he  had  grown  to  mature  man-  !. 

hood  in  the  usual  way    for  mankind    to    grow.     The  same  would    no  ^ 

doubt  have  been  true  also  of  the  majestic  oak;  much  slower  in  devel-  ^ 

opment  than  man,  and  twice  as  long  and  more  in  its  full  growth.  The  i 

expert  woodman  claims  wdien  he  fells  it  that  he  can  tell  how  old  the  .' 

giant  is  ;   but  the  fijpst  one,  doubtless,   in  the  day  of   its  creation   had  '^ 

as  many  layers  as  anj^  now  have  just  grown  to  maturity.  , 

Some  say  they  can  tell  the  age  of  a  cow^  by  counting  the  ring,^  ppon 

her  horns.     Then  if  she  has  no  horns,  and  this  is  their  only  rule,  her  ■] 

age  eludes  their  genius.     But  the  first  cow  at  her  creation    had  ,  as  j 

•  many  external  marks  of  mature  age,  no  doubt,  as  any  just  now  grown  J 
to  maturity.     So  doubtless  the  earth  would  have  appeared   as  old   to 

,Ad{im  at  first,  if  he  Jiad  dug  into  her  ever  so  deep,  as  she  does  to  any  / 

'of    his    sons  today.     G-Qethe  must    have    thought    so  when    he    thus  j 

addressed  the  Creator :  •'■ 

"And  all  Thy  works  sublime  and  splendid,  » 

Are  bright  as  in  Creation's  earliest  hour."  ; 

In  reality  no  man  knows  either   how  old,    or    how    young    are    the  ; 

rocks.     They  were  not  present  at  their  creation,  Job  ^Sr-i;   nor  were  "^ 
they,  if  formed  since  the  creation  of  the  earth.     It  is  an  easy  matter 
to  say  this  has   been  coral  in  its  development  and    that    is  a  recent  v^O^ 
formation,  and  mean  by  recent  indelinite  ages,  but  to  know  the  truth 
as  lo  the  age  of  either  is  a  very  different  thing. 

Neither  are  there- external    signs,  nor    internal    criteria,    by  which  ] 

their  age  can  be  told  with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  and  cannot  furnish  , 

any  real  proof  of  their  own  age,  to    say    nothing   of   the   age  of   the  ] 
earth.     The  Creator^ 'cci'uld   as  easily  as  not,    give  the  earth    all    the 

internal  appearance  of  natui-al    development,  although    He    made    it  •; 
instantantly  in  organism,  though  chaotic  at  first  for  the  time,  under 

stood  in  His  own  account  of  it.     He  made  some  things    rough,    some  / 

smooth,  some  after  this  manner,  some  after  that  ;    but  everj'  one  was  j 

perfect  when  He  pronounced  it  good.     The  methofl    of   Creation  was  < 

very  difi'erent    from  that  of    natural    development.     In  creating    the  1 

earth  He  could  make    it  (piickly  in  that    form    it  wf)uld  require  long  i 

ages  of  natural  development  to  bringittoo;   and  t  bis  is  doubt  less  just  ] 

the  way  He  did  it .  < 

Ldo  not  believe  the  stars  wen^  fiu-med  by  the  accretio?i  of  nebulous 

matter  through  slow  processes,  but  in  the  day  of  their  Creation  were  ] 

made  instantly  by  the  Word  of  (iod.     And  on  the  fourth    day,    when  j 

they  passed  from  under  t'reative  hands,  they  were  perfect.  ' 


56.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

It  matters  not  what  men  may  say,  especially  when  telling  things 
they  don't  understand,  they  may  be  mistaken,  but  God,  never.  Let 
Him  be  true — and  He  will —  if  it  makes  every  man  a  liar,  Rom.  3:-t. 
Whether  He  has  made,  or  caused  any  to  be  made,  by  any  means, 
since  the  Creation,  I  do  not  claim  to  know.  I  believe,  however,  the 
latest  discovered  by  men  are  as  old  as  the  rest. 

If  men  could  prove  by  observation,  or  other  means,  how  long  it 
would  take  a  rock  to  grow  to  a  certain  size,  it  would  be  no  proof  as  to 
the  age  of  the  earth  ;  for  as  man,  she  was  adult  at  first.  I  believe 
when  she  was  in  chaos  she  carried  the  same  amount  of  matter  slie 
does  now.  Farmers  have  noticed  large  rocks  on  their  farms  for  sixty 
years  or  more,  and  have  never  seen  any  difference  in  their  size.  So 
have  we  all  in  case  of  the  very  large  ones  we  so  often  pass.  Never 
could  we  appreciate  any  difference  in  their  size.  So,  I  think,  it  is 
with  many  of  those  inside  of  the  earth ;  that  they  were  made  perfect 
at  first,  and  are  as  old  as  the  earth.  Without  and  within,  had  they 
been  examined  then,  they  would  have  looked  tlien  as  they  do  now% 
except  where  they  have  been  interfered  with  by  some  force  or  other. 
Wliere  fractures  are  exposed  to  the  air,  or  any  erosive  influences, 
they  will  show  signs  of  age;  but  it  only  has  reference  to — if  it  is  proof 
of  anything — the  age  of  the  fracture,  and  not  to  the  age  of  the  rock ; 
nor  of  the  earth  ;  and  no  man  has  sufficient  experience  to  tell  when 
the  fractures  occurred.  He  may  think  it  was  seismic,  volcanic 
or.equatic,  but  he  does  not  know  the  date  of  that  catastrophe. 

We  know  many  rocks  have  been  formed  since  the  earth  was  made. 
For  instance,  by  the  action  of  lime  water,  as  in  caves.  It  is  a  com- 
mon '  thing  in  what  are  called  limestone  countries.  I  have  myself 
seen  the  process  going  on  ;  have  seen  the  stalactites  forming  at  the 
top,  like  an  icicle  pending  from  the  roof,  and  its  fellow  rising  from 
the  floor  under  it.  Drop  by  di-op,  did  the  water  petrify — add  to  each 
as  regular  as  the  ticking  of  a  clock — till  by  and  by,  they  met  midway 
between  floor  and  roof ;  and  on  and  on,  the  beautiful  process  went ;  nor 
will  it  stop  unless  the  supply  of  water  fails  from  above.  On  the  sur- 
face of  the  very  beautiful  column  of  stone  thus  formed  are  grooves  of 
exquisite,  beautiful,  cunning  work,  as  if  done  and  finished  bj^  the 
hand  of  an  expert  artist. 

Caves  are  formed,  for  the  most  part,  by  water;  usually  a  stream  of 
w^ater  flows  tlu'ough  it,  or  near  by,  at  least.  Some  are  formed  by  vol- 
canic influence.  No  one  could  calculate  how  long  those  columns  have 
been  forming.  He  could  not  tell  when  the  cave  itself  was  formed. 
And  it  would,  as  in  wet  seaso!is  the  flow  of  water  is  greater  than  in 
dry  seasons,  vai-y  accordingly.  Of  course  we  might  suppose  that 
nature  has  been  'arrying  on  such  works  from  the  earliest  of  times. 
Many  wonderful  things  of  the  kind,  and  of  other  kinds  in  rock  and 
stone  does  she,  all  of  which  should  cause  us  the  more  to  admire  the 
works  of  Him  that  maketh  all,  and  the  more  devoutly  worship  His 
holy  name.  And  many  rocks,  too,  are  formed,  of  course,  in  the  earth 
by  her  internal  heat,  and  by  the  cooling  of  the  lava  from  volcanoes 
on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  as  we  often  see  on  mountains  and  in  other 
places. 

We  know  the  natural  forces  are  at  work  doing  wonders    in  all    the 


TllK  STORY  OF  CREATION.  57. 

ofirlli — some  by  slow  processes,  some  I'ormed  sucUlenly  by  an  extraor- 
dinary exertion  of  the  natural  forees  ;  buttliere  is  in)  analofjy  between 
these  acts  of  nature  now,  and  the  creation  of  all  thinj^s  at  tirst  direct- 
ly by  the  word  of  (rod.  jMen  can  not  therefore  find  anythin<j  in  the 
operations  of  nature  by  which  they  can  prove  the  iX'^e  of  the  earth. 
Her  beginning  was  not  according  to  any  law — or  set  of  laws — now  at 
work  in  her.  But  Creation  gave  existence  to  all  the  laws  of  nature, 
and  therefore  could  not  be  under  laws  that  tlien,  or  before  then,  had 
no  existence. 

Miraculous  power  was  before  natural  power.  The  natural  was  pro- 
duced by  the  miraculous.  The  miraculous  prepared  every  department 
in  nature  to  be  operated  by  natural  laws.  The  miraculous  must  have 
filled  the  place  of  all  power  until  each  department  in  all  nature  was 
entrusted  to  what  we  call  the  laws  of  nature.  No  machinist  can  run 
his  machinery  until  every  part  is  adiusted  to  receive  its  part  of  the 
power.  So  in  Creation,  everything  was  originated  by  miraculous 
power  and  controlled  by  it  until  the  natural  powers  were  so  adjusted 
to  till  its  place,  as  they  have  since  done,  in  the  regular  course  of 
all  nature.  It  was  ol)liged  to  be  so  until  Creation  was  ready  to  be 
committed  to  what  are  called  the  natural  forces  in  all  nature.  The 
miraculous  was  first;  then  that  which  is  natural.  Everything  done 
in  Creation  was  on  the  order  of  miracles ;  and  is  agreeable  with  His 
other  miraculous  works  recorded  in  the  Bible.  By  studying  His  mira- 
cles as  recorded  in  the  Scriptures,  we  can  by  analogy  the  better  un- 
derstand His  works  of  Creation.  We  are  in  nature,  in  the  flesh.  We 
can  therefore  see  only  in  part.  God  is  over  and  above  all  nature,  and 
sees  all- and  through  all — to  the  end  from  the  beginning.  It  is  best 
for  us,  therefore,  to  let  Him  guide  us. 

Suppose  we  should  say,  God  is  the  Soul  of  the  Universe.  That 
would  not  be  a  fortunate  expression ;  for  if  that  were  a  fact,  then  He 
made  His  own  body  and  put  His  soul  in  it;  and  the  transition  would 
be  easy  to  this  :  Nature  is  God  ;  and  God  is  nature  ;  and  there  is  no 
God  but  nature,  which  sonae  teach. 

According  to  the  Bible,  He  existed  in  all  the  fullness  of  His  being 
and  power  before  the  things  which  are  seen  by  us  were  created.  And 
the  making  of  these  added  nothing  to  God  Himself,  or  to  His  person- 
ality in  any  way.  He  existed  without  them,  and  would  the  same  if 
they  were  destroj-ed.  But  it  teaches  He  fills  Heaven  and  earth  ;  that 
He  has  all  power.  That  the  forces  of  nature  are  indebted  constantly 
to  His  power  and  guided  by  His  wisdom  always.  Faith  grasps  these 
as  facts,  and  reason  has  to  admit  them,  yet  they  cannot  be  fully  com- 
prehended by  either.  Christ  says:  "The  earth  bringeth  forth  fruit 
of  herself."  But  He  did  not  mean  to  teach  that  she  would  do  much 
of  it  without  His  providence,  nor  very  much  without  man's  provi- 
dence either.  He  said  too,  ye  know  not  how,  Mark  4  :'27-28.  That  is 
a  fact;  we  do  not  know  how.  Faith  and  reason  both  have  to  admit  it. 

It  is  best  to  take  the  Bible  as  it  is  given  to  us.  No  man  can 
improve  its  statements.  And  while  this  is  true  in  its  doctrines,  it  is 
also  true  in  its  moral  statements.  As  a  book  of  laws  it  must  needs 
state  all  crimes — sins  of  all  kinds — and  their  penalties.     Men  cannot 


58.  THE  STUKY  UF  CREATION. 

refine  on   either  of  them,  in  doctrine  nor  nioi*als.     None  of   man's? 
attempts  Iiuve  ever  bettered  them.  They  are  perfect  in  themselves. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Ac!f!ORi)iNG  to  the  statements  of  some  writers,  the  eartJi  must  have 
been  much  smaller  at  first  than  she  now  is ;  for  she  had  her  surface 
in  each  age  and  has  buried  every  one  in  succession,  until  now  at  such 
and  such  depths,  as  they  state.  Then  of  course  her  bi^lk  has  increased 
at  a  regular  and  sufficient  ratio  in  order  to  bury  up  all  that  was  on 
her  surface  at  each  of  these  different  ages.  And  if  they  are  right  she 
must  keep  on  at  the  same  ratio  of  increase ;  for  the  law,  to  be  con- 
sistent, must  continue  to  work  on  and  on  at  the  same  ratio.  If  it 
don't  do  that,  then  it  don't  prove  anything  at  all. 

Then  at  some  future  age  we  will  all  be  far  below  her  Surface  and 
others  examining  our  skeletons — if  they  can  find  them — measuring 
oar  bones;  guessing  how  long  since  we  perished,  and  at  what  period 
did  we  appear  on  the  earth.  Then  of  course,  if  their  theory  is  right, 
this  in(u'ease  would  be  equal  all  around  the  earth,  or  it  would  change 
her  form.  That  much  matter  gathered  on  her  surface  would  make 
her  that  much  larger  than  she  once  was  ;  and  in  the  future  larger  than 
she  is  now.  There  must  be  an  error  somewhere,  for  science  finds  her 
circumference  less  now"  than  it  was  formerly  stated.  Then  25,000 
miles ;  now  28,754.  According  to  that  she  is  getting  smaller  instead 
of  larger.  They  had  just  as  well  confess  that  their  theory  of  rocks 
and  fossils  proves  nothing  as  to  her  age. 

If  she  increased  enough  to  do  thi^  where  these  things  are  .found, 
then  by  the  same  criterion  she  did  where  they  are  not  found  just  as 
much.  Such  an  enlargement  of  her  bulk  would  have  made  variations 
in  the  length  of  her  days  and  of  her  years.  We  know  no  such  changes 
in  the  days  and  years  of  the  earth  have  taken  place;  therefore,  the 
so-called-  facts  of  geologists  as  to  the  very  remote  age  of  the  earth 
prove  nothing  as  to  her  age.  And  it  proves  that  she  is  neither  larger 
nor  smaller  than  she  was  in  thatday  when  her  Creator  pronounced  her 
good.  Whether  it  was  done  by  aquatic,  moulten,  acrid  or  elecitrical 
influences,  God  did  it  nevertheless,  as  is  stated  in  the  Bible,  by  His 
word.  It  was  just  as  easy  for  Him  to  do  it  that  way  as  to  first  create 
the  elements  and  cause  them  to  aggregate  together  ])y  slow  processes 
— and  far  more  consistent  with  what  He  has  shown  us  of  His  works. 
He  can  accomplish  a  result  by  any  agency  He  may  choose  for  His 
purposes  and  bring  it  to  its  highest  perfection  in  an  instant  as  well 
as  in  a  long  while.  All  agencies  are  but  his  servants.  In  creation 
His  power  was  exerted  after  a  miraculous  manner;  in  the  course  of 
nature  providentially. 

For  ages,  long  ages  past,  men  have  been  making  exact  calculations 
when  eclipses  would  occur.  Now  if  tlie  earth  had  been  getting  larger 
they  could  not  have  done  it.  Could  not  do  it  now  if  she  was  grow- 
ing. Nor  could  they  if  the  planets  were  growing.  Neither  could 
they  calculate  accurately  when  the  sun,  moon,  morning  and  eve- 
ning stars  would  rise  and  set.  The  development  theory  in  Crea- 
tion, or  nature,  is  unnatural,  is  unscientific,  is  unphilosophic.     When 


THE  STORY  OF  (CREATION.  '>d. 

He  finished  at  the  close  of  the  sixtli  (hiy  we  had  a  compU^tc  Creation. 
The  history  of  astronoiny  as  far  back  as  it  i*eaches  is  in  proof  of  it. 
So  is  the  general  histoiy  of  the  world,  human  experience  and  the 
observation  of  all  mankind. 

In  the  vision  of  the  dry  bones  of  tlie  valley  (Ez.  B7,  lO-l-l)  was  done 
a  work  that  would  have  required  about  thirty  years  by  ordinary  pro- 
cess;  yet  done  in  an  instant.  Men  fully  i^-rown,  trained,  armed  for 
battle  in  God's  fight  against  all  wi'ong  in  thought,  belief  and  action 
among  men.  This  is  an  illustration  of  His  power  and  manner  of 
work. 

If  men  were  to  live  upon  tlie  earth  a  million  of  years  and  dig  into 
her  ever  so  deep  and  examine  her  within  and  without  she  would 
look  no  older  than  she  does  now.  In  ten  millions  of  3'ears  hence,  it 
woidd  be  just  the  same.  Her  generations  pass  away  but  she  abideth 
ever.  (Eccl.  1:4),  "He  renews  the  face  of  the  earth,"  (Ps.  104  >30), 
Without  and  within  she  holds  her  youthful  appearances.  You  can- 
not count  the  j^ears  of  her  age  as  the  herdsman  does  the  age  of  a  cow. 
She  ever  appears  young.  Never  wearies,  never  shows  mortal  signs 
of  age ;  she  is  not  decaying,  is  not  wearing  out.  I  dare  say  if  an 
axman  had  felled  the  first  forest  trees  he  would  have  found  as  many 
streaks  from  the  bark  to  the  center  of  the  heart  as  he  does  now  in 
any  of  the  same  species  that  have  sij^^iiij^  come  to  i^erfect  maturity. 
And  on  examination  it  would  have  been  so  with  the  cow.  And  just 
so  with  the  horse  in  all  the  farrier  finds  in  the  teeth  of  any  one 
now  just  grown  to  adult  age.  It  was  so  with  everything  else.  They 
were  all  adult  in  all  adult  characteri-stics  in  the  hour  of  their  creation, 
or  quickly  came  to  it.  And  so,  too,  with  the  earth.  He  treated  all 
alike.     She  and  all  else  were  finished  in  six  days. 

The  earth  must  have  been  adult  at  first  or  she  was  out  of  harmony 
with  everything  that  was  created  out  of  her;  and  all  that  was  placed 
upon  her,  and  with  the  whole  system  with  which  she  was  connected. 
Now  we  know  that  all  nature  is  in  harmony  in  her  regular  state, 
therefore,  the  earth,  as  everything  else,  was  fully  adult  when  she 
was  put  into  her  system  of  adult  beings.  She  has  held  her  own  until 
now.  Appears  neither  older  nor  younger  than  she  did  then.  Nor 
larger  nor  smaller  than  when  Creation  was  finished.  I  am  willing  to 
excuse  that  mistake  made  in  calculating  her  circumference;  they 
have  done'well  to  get  it  as  correctly  as  they  have.  I  thank  the  Lord 
for  all  the  truth  they  have  found,  and  shall  be  grateful  if  science  will 
be  fair  enough  to  correct  all  other  mistakes  she  makes.  If  they  were 
coi'rect  both  first  and  last,  she  might  get  too  small  for  us  after  a  while. 

But  I  believe  if  he  were  to  cre.ate  another  in  her  place  today,  she 
would  look  as  old  in  her  interiuil  structure,  except  where  she  had 
been  interfered  with  in  -some  way  or  other,  as  this  one  does  now.  He 
could  do  it  after  that  fashion  quicker  than  they  can  count  the  ages, 
they  say,  she  has  already  come  through  necessary,  they  say,  to  bring 
her  to  her  present  condition.  That's  only  their  judgment;  not  His. 
He  is  not  a  man  that  you  may  follow  Him  by  counting  the  strokes  of 
His  hand.  He  can  accomplish  a  complex  work  at  a  single  stroke  having 
in  itself  a  million  of  strokes,  as  it  were,  lick  by  lick,  stroke  by  stroke. 
He  can  do  more  at  a  sin<,de  stroke  than  all  nicii  can  ever  do;  all  done 


60.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

at  once  by  his  infinite  skill  which  no  man  can  iini'avel,  and  to  man's 
wisdom  it  seems  as  if  it  had  i^assed  through  many  stages  of  progress 
stretching  through  periods  of  time  indefinite.  "Lo,  these  are  parts 
of  His  ways;  but  the  thunder  of  His  power  who  can  understand?" 
(Job  26  :1J:).  You  cannot  by  searching  find  out  the  Almighty  to  per- 
fection. (Job  11:7).  The  same  is  true  of  His  work.  In  regard  to 
them  like  himself  they  are  above  our  comprehension.  (Eccl.  11 :5-9). 
We  should  duly  admire  them,  (Rom.  11 :5i3),  and  should  exDect  to 
find  them  commensurate  with  His  character  as  God  ;  should  the  more 
devoutly  worship  Him  through  them  than  otherwise. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Geologists  claim  to  have  gone  down  in  the  investigation  of  the 
earth's  internal  structure  to  what  is  called  the  azoic  rocks;  so-called 
because  they  are  anterior  to  any  forms  of  organized  life  ;  either  animal 
or  vegetable.  The  Algonkian  period  comes  between  the  Archaean  and 
the  Cambrian  in  some  of  the  works  on  geology  and  is  the  lower  part 
next  above  the  Azoic.  Some  geologists  claim  to  have  found  some 
remains  of  organic  life  in  these  rocks  affording  they  say  strong  prob- 
ability that  there  may  yet  be  found  remains  of  organic  life  in  the 
Azoic  rocks.  Investigation  will  find,  so  I  believe,  if  it  is  to  be 
depended  upon  at  ail,  that  the  earth  has  never  had  but  one  physical 
age,  and  that  all  of  her  time  since  the  third  day  of  Creation  has  been 
occupied  by  organic  life. 

According  to  the  stated  thickness  of  their  different  divisions  from 
the  surface  down  to  the  azoic  rocks,  four  and  a  half  miles  would  be  a 
low  average  depth.  Then,  if  their  theory  is  correct,  the  earth  has 
grown  that  much  all  over  her  surface  since  the  formation  of  the 
azoic  rocks.  Think  of  a  piece  of  machinery  witli  one  wheel  ever 
growing  larger  and  larger;  don't  any  man  know  that  it  would  be 
obliged  to  get  out  of  fix  !  That  it  would  ultimately  fail !  Or  think 
of  a  piece  of  machinery  with  every  wheel  in  it  ever  growing  larger 
and  larger  at  the  same  ratio  of  development.  Don't  any  man  know 
that  it  would  be  obliged  to  get  out  of  fix?  That  every  space  between 
the  wheels  would  be  blocked  up  by  and  by  !  If  the  earth  grows,  then, 
by  analogy,  every  sphere  in  her  system  gi-ows  likewise. 

It  is  necessary  for  the  spaces  between  the  spheres  in  the  universe 
to  be  kept  open  as  they  are,  and  have  ever  been  from  the  beginning, 
of  the  same  width  perpetiuilly.  If  they  could  by  growth,  or  mis- 
placement, get  closer  together  it  would  be  a  calamity  to  the  whole. 
Therefore,  to  suppose  she  ever  grew  at  all  is  unscientific,  unphilo- 
sopical.  When  we  say  a  baby  we  don't  mean  a  man.  Man  and 
woman  then  mean  maturity.  So  did  the  word  earth  at  first,  and 
always,  mean  a  grown  earth.  So  did  sun,  moon  and  stars.  And  all 
things  else.  Fully  developed  as  they  are  now.  Have  never  grown 
any  since.  Nor  does  any  machinist  ever  put  in  new  wheels  while  the 
machinery  is  running.  There  is  no  account  of  the  Ci'eator  ever  stop- 
ping the  motion  of  our  solar  system  for  it  to  receive  any  new  spheres. 
He  certainly  pxit  them  all  in  at  once,  although  it  was  a  long  time  before 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  61. 

astro?ioiHers  discovered  some  of  the  last  known  ;  and  they  deserve 
tnueh  credit  for  eVer  finding  them  at  all. 

1  have  never  read  of  but  one  world  that  t^rew  after  its  finished 
creation,  and  that  was  hell.  Is.  "):!  t.  For  some  reason  or  other,  she 
was  allowed  to  enlarge  herself.  I  suppose  the  inimif,n*ation  there  was 
so  great  that  she  wanted  more  rootn.  That  is  the  only  one  of  her 
])('tit ions  ever  granted,  except  wlien  ,1  oh  was  sorelv  tried  bv  Satan. 
.Job  2::;. 

We  would  suppose  that  l)asic  rocks,  and  the  bases  of  all  mineral 
substances,  and  of  all  metallic  substances,  had  been  created  with  the 
earth  at  first.  And  here,  we  may  say,  are  rocks  that  have  been 
formed  since,  for  they  show  that  they  were  formed  by  forces  now  at 
work  in  the  earth.  All  very  tnic,  no  doubt ;  and  here  are  some  called 
^  azoij^rocks,  put  there,  no  doubt,  l>y  the  Almighty,  in  the  day  when 
"  tlie  earth  was  created.  Indeed,  it  would  be  a  singular  fact  if  she 
should  condense  from  chaos,  without  forming  any  rocks.  And  a  sin- 
gular fact,  too,  if  wiien  the  land  emera-ed  out  of  the  water  there  were 
no  rocks  on  the  surface.  And  the  fact  that  there  ai*e  no  organic  re- 
mains in  the  rocks  then  formed  is  in  proof  of  the  Bible  account  of 
Creation.  For  up  to  that  time  tiiere  had  l)een  no  animals,  nor  plants 
of  any  kind  ci-eated.  And  of  course  those  rocks,  wliether  igneous  or 
aquatic,  could  not  embrace  any  forms  of  organic  life.  Actcording  to 
Scripture,  they  were  prior  to  all  life. 

But  some  writers  want  to  say  they  have  grown  by  slow  processes  to 
their  present  size,  and  allow  very  long,  indefinite  periods  of  time  for 
it,  vrhereas  there  are  many  rocks  that  show  no  sign  of  gi'owth.  They 
may  have  layers  and  splits,  the  first  ever  since  their  creation,  no 
doubt,  the  second  by  some  cause  since.  The  Bible  speaks  of  rocks 
being  sent  by  the  Creator's  power;  and  the  most  solid  of  them  at 
.     that,   "^riie  rocks,  therefore,  bear  witness  to  its  truth. 

There  are  no  people  on  earth  that  can  prove  that  their  stone  moun- 
tains have  grown  a  whit  since  they  were  first  known  to  man.  Now, 
if  they  had  grown  from  countless  ages,  why  should  they  stop?  How 
could  they  stop?  The  law?  of  inanimate  nature  never  stop;  if  it  was 
a  lav»'  before  for  them  to  grow,  they  will  keep  on.  That  law,  if  it 
exists,  or  ever  was,  will  not  become  inoperative.  Tf  such  a  thing  has 
worked  from  the  beginning,  it  is  at  work  now,  and  will  work  on  ad- 
infinitum  and  ultimately  derange  our  whole  solar  system.  For  if  it 
is  a  natural  and  progressive  development,  as  they  claim  f')r  it.  it 
must  be  also  all  through  and  all  around  the  eartli  alike,  for  if  is  not 
universal  it  is  not  all. 

Xow,  let  us  .suppose  that  all  these  tilings  are  not  all  over  the  earth 
-  alike,  and  it  cannot  be  proven  that  they  are,  but  are  only  in  some 
jjlaces,  and  were  bui-ied  there  by  the  natural  effects  that  would  fol- 
low siich  a  catastrophe  as  the  flood  of  Xbah.  volcanic,  and  other 
influences  that  liave  prevailed  since  Ci'eation.  That  could  be  without 
the  earth  being  any  larger  than  she  was  at  first.  The  fact  tliat  no 
remains  of  life  are  found  in  the  azoic  rocks,  shows  that  they  have 
not  grown  since  organic  life  has  prevailed  upon  the  earth,  or  they 
would  have  enclosed  some  as  well  as  did  others. 

A  certain  writer  says :   "The  ordinarv  rate  of  inci'ease  of  1  be   mad- 


(52.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

repores,  according  to  Dana,  is  about  an  inch  and  a  half  annually; 
and  as  their  branches  are  much  scattered,  this  will  not  exceed  half 
an  inch  in  thickness  of  the  whole  surface  covered  by  the  madrepore. 
Again,  in  consequence  of  their  porosity,  this  quantity  will  be 
reduced  to  three-eighths  of  an  inch  of  compact  matter.  The  sands, 
too,  filling  up  the  destroj^ed  joart  of  the  polyp  are  washed  out  by  the 
currents  in  the  great  depths  where  there  are  no  living  corals,  and  the 
surface  occupied  by  them  is  reduced  to  a  sixth  of  the  whole  coral 
line  region,  which  reduces  the  preceding  three-eighths  to  one-sixth. 
The  shells  and  other  organic  debris  will  probably  represent  a  fourth 
of  the  total  produce  in  relation  to  corals.  In  this  manner,  taking 
everything  into  account,  the  mean  increase  of  the  reef  cannot  exceed 
the  eighth  of  an  inch  annually.  According  to  this  calculation,  some 
reefs  which  are  not  less  than  2,000  feet  thick  would  require  for  their 
formation  192,000  years."  It  is  a  striking  coincidence,  if  we  leave 
out  all  of  his  deductions,  which  I  believe  is  more  correct,  in  order  to 
get  down  to  nature  on  tlie  subject,  and  calculate  it  at  the  rate  of  an 
inch  and  a  half  a  year,  it  will  take  exactly  (5,000  j'ears  for  them  to  do 
it,  wliich  is  not  at  all  contrary  to  Bible  chronology. 

Then  he  adds:  "It  is  necessary,  however,  to  add  that  in  favora- 
ble circumstances  the  increase  of  the  masses  of  coral  may  be  much 
more  rapid,  ^fr.  Darwin  refers  to  a  ship  which,  having  been  wrecked 
in  the  Persian  gulf,  was  found,  after  having  been  submerged  only 
twenty  months,  to  be  covered  with  a  bed  of  coral  two  feet  in  thick- 
ness." Now  it  would  have  required  only  (500  years,  according  to  that 
rate,  to  have  formed  it  2,000  feet  thick,  which  is  the  greatest  thick- 
ness he  gives  for  any  of  the  beds. 

He  further  says  that:  "He,  Mr.  Darwin,  also  mentions  experiments 
made  on  the  coast  of  Madagascar,  which  tend  to  prove  that  in  the 
space  of  six  months  certain  corals  increased  nearly  three  feet." 
According  to  that  rate  they  could  build  it  2,000  feet  thick  in  the 
space  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-one  years  and  five  months.  And 
if  centuries  were  allowed  for  the  fuller  experiment,  it  might  have  had 
all  the  reasons  embraced  in  the  whole  bed  for  reductions  mentioned 
in  his  calculation  made  in  the  first  instance,  amounting  to  192, (.)00 
years,  which,  without  any  reductions,  is  only  6,(X)0  years.  So  if 
these  little  creatures  are  witnesses,  their  testimony  does  not  contra- 
dict the  chronologj^  of  the  Bible. 

Suppose  a  man  should  try  to  calculate  time  by  the  wearing  of  a 
stream  of  water  over  a  rock  ;  he  could  not  succeed  because  it  would 
not  be  uniform  all  through  time.  For  a  long  while  it  might  be  quite 
uniform,  but  when  the  water  came  to  softer  parts  of  the  I'ock  it  would 
wear  much  faster;  and  when  the  volume  should  be  increased  by 
rains,  melting  snow,  ice  and  freshets,  the  wear  even  of  hard  rock 
would  be  greatly  increased.  Neither  would  he  know  whether  it  had 
been  there  trom  the  beginning  of  time  or  not.  Or  if  he  should  watch 
the  progress  of  petrifaction  going  on  in  a  cave,  which  is  regular,  yet 
is  by  no  means  uniform,  in  its  increase;  one  begins  at  the  top  and 
another  op])osite  it  at  the  bottom,  the  one  growing  downward  the 
other  upward  until  they  unite  in  the  middle,  each  by  the  stony  ele- 
ments in  a  single  droj)  of  rarbunuted  lime  water  petrifying.     As  the 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  (18. 

stalactite  increases,  the  j^-rowlh  will  be  more  rapid,  lor  more  water 
ti'ickles  down  over  its  surface,  leavin<f  its  stony  substance  to  p(^trify, 
wliile  its  other  elements  escape  by  evaporation.  He  could,  therefore, 
get  no  uniform  rule  by  which  to  calculate  the  increase,  and  conse- 
quently could  not  succeed  in  computing  time  )iy  that  process. 

If  the  earth  had  not  had  the  appearance  as  if  she  grew  to  adult 
age,  for  her  according  to  her  bvilk,  her  appearance  would  not  have 
been  in  harmony  with  that  system  of  her  own  nature  with  which  she 
is  connected.  The  trees  from  out  of  her  made  miraculously  at  first, 
would  have  all  the  signs»of  growth  as  these  do  that  have  grown  to 
adult  age. 

As  the  wine  the  Creator  made  miraculously  at  the  wedding  (John 
2:1-11)  out  of  water  without  its  previous  course  of  years  in  the 
growth  of  the  vine  and  for  this  last  year  in  the  saccharine  juice 
months  in  coming  to  maturity  in  the  grape  for  wine;  than  which 
none  was  better.  No  one,  not  even  the  governor,  could  tell  it  from 
the  best  that  had  gone  through  the  regular  process  of  wine  making. 
It  was  ready  for  use  as  soon  as  the  water  could  be  put  in  and  drawn 
out  of  the  vessels.  So  he  made  everything  in  the  day  of  its  creation. 
Quickly,  but  it  appeared  as  if  it  had  grown  to  its  perfection  as  every- 
thing of  its  kind  does  now.  As  children  resemble  their  mothers,  as 
every  thing  else  had  the  appearance  as  if  it  had  grown  through  the 
time  alloted  to  each  in  the  course  the  Creator  designed  for  each  in 
its  regular  appointed  way  to  come  to  its  full  form  and  bulk.  So  with 
aninuils  of  all  kinds;  so  with  Adam  and  Eve  themselves,  so  it  must 
be,  too,  with  the  earth,  to  so  appear  as  she  is  found  today,  or  else  she 
was  out  of  harmony  with  every  form  of  life  that  had  been  taken  out 
of  her.  Her  surface  and  internal  structure  must  harmonize  with 
every  form  of  life  taken  out  of  her.  Herein  we  may  get  a  rule  per- 
haps by  which  we  may  calculate  tlie  number  of  years  she  has  existed. 
C'ompare  her  bulk  with  an  average  oak  tree  when  come  to  maturity 
and  the  time  it  requires  to  acquire  its  bulk.  Then  by  the  same 
ratio  calculate,  if  you  can,  how  long  it  would  take  inanimate  matter 
to  increase  to  the  size  of  the  earth.  And  by  the  same  rule  of  propor- 
tion she  will  appear,  perhaps,  as  if  it  took  her  that  long  to  get  her 
growth  as  it  did  an  oak  tree  in  proportion  to  its  size,  weight  and  ratio 
of  growth.  Whereas,  she  did  not,  but  as  was  the  lirst  oak,  made 
fully  grown  at  first.  We  have  none  of  the  first  trees  or  animals  to 
examine;  the  rocks  of  Creation  and  the  earth  only  of  all  terrestrial 
things  remain.  Slie  has  in  her  the  marks  of  her  Creation,  and  wiien 
they  ai*e  known,  and  the  Bible  as  well,  they  will  not  be  found  to  be 
contrary  to  either.  But  by  what  has  been  offered  al)ove,  there  can 
be  no  just  comparison  to  base  a  calculation  upon,  unless  we  knew 
how  large  was  the  ]:)ody  when  it  first  received  the  name  earth  and 
began  to  grow;  as  the  acorn  and  the  germ  from  the  acorn. 

We  have  no  account  when  she  was  first  called  earth  older  than  that 
found  in  Genesis,  and  I  believe  she  was  as  large  then  as  now,  and 
looked,  neither  within  and  without ,  older  nor  younger  than  she  does 
today.  Men  speak  of  old  countries  and  new  countries,  but  one  part 
of  the  earth  is  as  old  as  another.  Farmers  say  this  is  new  land,  that 
is  old,  but  both  are  of  equal  age.     The  first  of  all  things  on  earth — 


64.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

plants  and  eveiy  living  creature — were  made  capable  of  parentage 
and  had  the  necessary  signs  of  age  without  and  witJiin,  both  as  do 
the  fully  grown  today.  Tjie  earth  had  to  be  so  in  appearance  to 
agree  witli  all  the  rest.  It  is  reasonable  that  she  would  appear  at 
first  like  the  forest  tree,  having  in  herself  all  the  signs  in  proportion 
to  her  bulk,  but  not  like  a  tree  would  she  appear  any  older  than  slie 
did  at  first;  for  she  is  not  to  decay,  not  to  produce  another  like  her- 
self to  take  her  place;  hence  she  never  looks  any  older  at  one  time 
than  anotiier.  We  pass  away,  but  she  remains,  will  ever  look  young 
to  her  final  end. 

In  counting  the  years  of  the  cow,  the  horse,  the  deer,  we  have 
learned  by  experience  and  observation  a  starting  point;  but  we  do 
not  know  what  the  size  nor  the  age  of  that  nucleus  of  matter  that 
first  started  the  earth,  if  she  ever  grew  at  all,  or  was  so  formed.  If 
we  had  that,  it  would  be  impossible,  as  it  is  any  way,  for  us  to  get 
tlie  exact  solidity,  for  we  do  not  know  how  much  hollowness  may  be 
in  her.  The  unevenness  of  her  surface  of  dry  land  is  pretty  well 
lialanced  by  the  depths  of  her  waters.  So  when  the  Creator  broke 
up  her  surface  on  the  third  day,  so  as  to  make  seas  and  dry  land,  He 
left  her  bulk  and  weight  just  the  same  as  before.  And  while  she 
gives  material  to  make  everything  that  is  on  her,  tliat  grows  out  of 
her,  too,  she  gets  as  much  back  when  they  all  return  to  her  again  as 
they  took.  Thus  slie  holds  her  own  ;  from  age  to  age  she  is  tlie  same. 
If  she  grew,  there  is  no  rule  by  which  we  can  calculate  how  long  it 
took  her  to  get  grown,  or  determine  when  she  would  get  gi'own.  If 
a  law  of  growth  was  put  in  her  she  will  never  of  herself  stop  growing. 

The  Creation  of  bread  and  flesh  by  the  Son  of  Grod  while  on  earth. 
Math.  14  :15-21,  is  a  wonderful  work,  but  what  makes  it  appear  so 
wonderful  is  the  fact  of  its  uneommonness.  It  is  not  more  mysteri- 
ous than  that  bread  and  flesh  lie  gives  us  every  day.  It  would  be 
just,  as  easy  to  Him  to  feed  us  every  day  miraculously  as  to  do  it  the 
way  He  does,  for  He  does  it  any  how.  "Your  Heavenly  Father 
feedeth  them,"  Matt.  6:26. 

It  is  His  work  in  both  cases.  The  ordinary  process  is  for  tlie  bread 
to  be  produced  out  of  the  old  grain.  \Mien  sown  it  groweth  we  know 
not  how,  Mark  4:26-29.  First  the  blade,  then  the  stalk,  then  the 
grain,  then  the  bread  ;  in  about  six  months.  But  Jiere  it  was  done  in 
a  few  moments  of  time.  He  filled  the  place  of  the  plowman,  sower, 
reaper,  thresher,  grinder  and  baker.  That  bread  was  if  it  had  had 
all  the  process  from  sowing  to  baking.  Just  so  witli  the  fisli ;  He 
there'and  then  mnde,  as  if  tliey  liad  been  caught  out  of  Genesaret. 
And  so  it  was  with  everything  he  created  on  earth  at  first,  and  the 
earth  herself,  too;  as  if  they  grew,  but  did  not. 

So  was  it  with  all  the  plagues  He  brought  upon  Pharoah.  The  rod 
changed  into  a  serpent  was  an  aniiual  the  same  as  any  adult  of  the 
species  it  was  of.  The  Lord  did  not  produce  a  mere  sham,  it  was  a 
real  serj^ent  as  if  it  had  grown  in  the  regular  way.  If  it  had  been 
dissected  it  would  liave  had  all  the  signs  of  growth  as  any  full  grown 
one  of  tlnat  species.  The  water  of  the  Nile  is  changed  into  blood  at 
a  wave  of  Moses'  rod.  It  was  just  as  perfect  blood  as  was  ever  elab- 
orated in  I'liaroali's  system  bv  the  digestion  and  assiniihition  of  his 


THE  STORY  OF  C!REATIOX.  (55. 

food.  He  caused  the  water  to  briii<^  forth  frogs  as  He  did  in  the  day 
of  Creation.  These  frogs  were  as  if  they  had  grown  fi-om  ovum  to 
adult  age.  But  produc^jd  in  an  instant  by  tlie  worlv  of  the  Lord. 
Just  so  with  the  lice  and  the  flies,  as  if  through  all  insect  stages  al 
once.  And  the  very  sore,  painful  boils,  came  to  a  head  at  once,  as  if 
they  had  been  a  full  week  in  forming.  And  that  darkness  was  like 
tliat  at  first  before  God  said  "Let  there  be  light."  That  death  came 
to  its  consummation  in  a  midnight  hour,  as  if  sickness  had  been  by 
degrees  doing  its  death  work.  (Ex.  8,  9,  10.)  So  the  Lord  created 
everything  on  the  daj"  of  their  Creation.  These  are  in  proof  of  those, 
"I,  the  Lord,  change  not."     (Mai.  8:6). 

No  doubt  they  all  sliowed  the, same  signs  of  growth  as  these  do  in 
our  midst  today ;  for  that  was  their  nature.  On  comparison  would 
luive  been  just  alike.  Children  resemble  their  jDarents.  From  these 
Ave  see  what  were  those  sin^  and  its  effects  excepted.  Just  so  with 
the  earth;  it  would  necessarily  look  without  and  within  as  if  she  had 
grown  from  small  aggregations  of  atoms  of  matter,  by  natural  pro- 
cesses, to  her  present  bulk  and  form. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Iv  EXPERT  geologists,  and  to  the  standard  of  nature  true,  had  dis- 
sected the  earth  on  the  third  day  of  Creation  they  doubtless  would 
have  found  in  her  all  the  signs  of  growth,  and  of  age,  that  can  bo 
found  in  her  today.  If  you  could  ask  Adam  he  would  tell  you  the 
earth  did  not  look  a  bit  older  to  him  when  he  was  9ot>  years  old  than 
it  did  at  first,  (^r,  if  you  could  ask  Methuselah,  he  would  tell  you  it 
did  not  look  a  whit  older  to  him  when  he  was  969  years  old  than  she 
did  when  he  first  saw  her. 

Take  the  internal  structure  of  every  plant,  and  of  every  living  crea- 
ture, in  its  wonderful  mechanism  or  mystery  of  its  being;  those  that 
occupy  land  peculiarly  fitted  for  their  abode,  those  which  live  in  or 
about  water,  exactly  suited  to  their  element,  and  no  less  so  those 
that  float  aloft  in  the  atmosphere,  and  it  all  shows  a  power  of  con- 
ception and  skill  in  execution  far  above  all  human  genius.  There- 
fore, nature  of  herself  could  not  have  done  it.  Again,  that  Divine 
Author  had  no  models  to  study,  to  imitate;  without  a  guide  in 
thought  and  action  He  produced  independently  on  His  own  original 
conceptions  and  designs  and  skill  in  execution,  all  that  we  are.  It 
shows  there  is  a  God.  As  the  inspired  author  says,  "I  am  wonder- 
fully made."  So  is  everything  else.  And  there  is  no  argument,  with 
anv  show  of  reason,  that  can  be  made  against  the  teachings  of  the 
Bible. 

I  have  heard  of  some  who  made,  however,  tliis  suggestion  on  the 
making  of  man  :  "If  the  shin  was  behind  instead  of  before  it  would 
be  better."  But  they  don't  consider  that  one  of  the  main  things  for 
human  beings  to  do  is  to  kneel  before  their  Afaker. 

It  would  be  as  unnatural  as  it  is  unscientific  to  suj^pose  tluit  the 
worlds  were  made  by  slow  process  of  development.  The  universe 
could   not  fje   operated    upon   that    plan.     For   instance,    no   smaller 


m.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

body  than  the  sun  could  Iiave  at  any  time  tilled  his  place.  And  the 
same  is  true  of  the  earth,  moon,  planets  and  all  the  rest.  No  smaller 
ones  could  have  filled  their  places.  It  would  have  required  a  greater 
miracle  to  run  it  on  any  slow  development  theory  than  to  create  it  at 
first.  Nor  wjll  it  do  to  suppose  tliat  the  earth  alone  was  in  long 
periods  of  development  to  acquire  her  present  bulk,  for  that  would 
defeat  tlie  operation  of  that  whole  system  of  which  she  is  a  Dart. 
When  the  Creator  finished  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  day  it  was 
complete;  we  had  then  a  finished  Creation,  as  we  had  a  complete 
redemption  when  Christ  said  on  the  cross,  "It  is  finished." 

I  fail  to  see  how  any  practical  mind  could  conceive  of  a  slow  devel- 
opment theory  for  Creation.  I  know  some  have  used  the  expression 
"Stardust."  I  don't  think  any  one  in  this  world  knows  anything 
about  star  dust ;  they  can't  jDrove  that  they  have  ever  seen  dust  make 
a  permanent  star.  If  the  Creator,  himself,  is  now  forming  any  new 
worlds  they  must  be  outside  of  existing  systems ;  for  when  he  sets  a 
system  to  work  and  finishes  it,  it  is  complete.  I  know  some  have 
suggested  a  nebulous  hypothesis  for  the  formation  of  the  universe, 
but  it  has  not  proven  to  be  true;  it  supposes  that  our  solar  system 
was  a  long  while  without  a  solid  body  in  all  its  space;  that  its  space 
was  fitted  with  nebulous  matter:  that  that  matter  was  self-resolved 
into  the  sun,  and  by  its  revolutions  threw  oft"  enough  to  form  the 
planets  in  our  system.  But  the  whole  idea  is  unscientific,  the 
thought  of  it  unphilosophic,  for  without  revolving  bodies  we  have  no 
days  and  years.  Hence  we  know  nothing  of  time  before  days  began. 
All  back  of  that  to  us,  as  to  duration,  was  blank  eternity,  and  mortal 
man  is  unable  to  joenetrate  it.  Time,  I  understand,  began  with  the 
first  day.  Mortals  can  not  get  out  of  it,  no  more  before  it  than  after 
it.     Time  is  the  limitation  of  mortals. 

If  you  will  take  time  to  think,  you  will  see  that  every  miracle  of 
Creation  performed  by  Moses  and  the  prophets  produced  the  creature 
in  its  highest  degree  of  perfection  ;  as  the  frogs,  lice,  flies  and  locusts 
^in  Egypt.  The  Creator  did  these  things  by  Moses  as  He  made  every 
thing  perfect  in  the  six  days  of  Creation.  JMosesgave  out  the  manna 
in  the  wilderness,  (John  G  :82).  The  Creator  formed  it  every  night 
in  the  atmosphere,  and  it  was  sufficient  for  man's  full  nourishment. 
When  Christ  was  on  earth  in  the  body  of  a  man  He  did  creative  work 
as  if  He  wished  to  show,  or  that  He  saw  it  would  become  necessary 
to  show,  that  the  Creator  had  not  become  extinct.  And  it  was  to^ 
prove  that  He  was  that  great  Creator,  now  dwelling  in  humanity. 
And  as  He  was  Almighty  to  create,  so  He  was  Almighty  to  save. 

There  is  but  one  mii'acle  on  record  that  interfered  with  the  course 
of  nature;  that  was  when  Joshua  commanded  the  sun  and  moon  to 
stand  still.  God  gave  him  the  faith  to  positively  make  the  command, 
and  caused  nature  to  obey.  It  was  the  voice  that  first  gave  them 
being.  They  all,  as  it  were,  know  their  Master's  voice,  (Is.  1 :8),  and 
never  refuse  prompt  obedience.  All  mankind  would  do  well  to  learn 
superior  wisdom  from  them.  (Joshua  10:r2-i;>).  But  it  did  no  dam- 
age to  nature.  It  did  not  cause  a  single  jostle  in  all  the  universe. 
It  was  realized  among  the  heathen,  too.  It  is  spoken  of  outside  of 
the  Bible. 


TIJK   STOPvY  OF  (ViJKATTON.  G7. 

Wlieii  a  deaf  man  was  liealed  it  did  no  hurt  to  nalui-e  anywliere ; 
just  so  wlien  lie  gave  sight  to  the  blind;  but  helped  her  in  both  by 
moving  obstructions  out  of  her  way.  When  a  dead  num  was  raised 
to  life  it  did  not  hurt  nature  at  all  ;  it  only  robbed  death  of  a  victim 
for  a  while;  it  did  not  keep  the  sun  from  shining,  nor  the  earth  from 
moving,  nor  the  wind  from  blowing,  nor  the  rain  from  falling.  When 
He  healed  the  lame  and  the  sick  He  helped  nature  back  to  her 
normal  condition  in  these  cases. 

\Miy  not  ol)ject  to  sickness,  blindness,  deafness,  lameness  and 
death?  These  are  all  against  nature  and  obstruct  her  course  as  far 
as  their  influences  go.  And  what  are  they  but  adjuncts  imposed  on 
nature  on  account  of  sin?  Miracles  are  for  the  uninformed.  Intel- 
ligent persons  should  be  able  to  believe  without  them.  (1  Cor.  1-4:22.) 

A  miracle  is  a  triumph  over  that  which  obstructs  nature  in  such 
cases  as  healing,  etc.,  turning  her  loose  to  fill  her  course;  or,  is 
something  over  and  above  nature  in  her  ordinary  course.  In  both 
kinds  nature  obeys  the  will  of  her  author  as  she  usually  does  in  her 
ordinary  course.  For  instance,  in  a  miracle  of  healing  the  sick,  it  is 
suddenly  done  by  God's  power  instead  of  gradually.  Feeding  the 
multitude  on  multiplied  bread  and  multiplied  fish,  ready  cooked,  was 
doing  on  the  spot  what  .lesus  is  commonly  doing  in  the  ordinary 
modes  to  furnish  the  world  with  t  hat  daily  bread  for  which  He  teaches 
us  both  to  work  and  pray.  The  difference  is  only  methodical;  it  is 
the  same  author  in  both  cases.  In  a  miracle  He  causes  nature  to  do 
quickly  what  she  usually  does  slowly;  and  it  is  remarkable  that  He 
wrought  on  the  nature  He  had  already  created  to  produce  miracu- 
lously all  forms  of  organized  life  in  the  day  each  was  created  and 
made.  The  would-be  defenders  of  nature  would  do  well  to  look  out 
for  themselves;   nature  is  in  no  danger. 

The  star  that  guided  the  astronomers  of  old  to  Bethlehem  I  do  not 
believe  was  a  star  drawn  athwart  for  that  purpose  and  afterwards 
returned  to  its  natural  orl:)it,  but  a  temporary  production,  by  mirac- 
lous  power,  called  in  prophecy  "His  star";  (Xum.  24:17,  Matt.  2:2). 
(xod  has  his  means  for  every  peculiar  condition  of  men  to  lead  them 
to  the  wisdom  of  salvation,  if  they  will  only  follow.  The  shepherds 
did  not  need  a  star,  angels  told  them,  ^o  doubt  they  had  seen 
angels  before,  and  could  receive  such  messages  without  any  skepti- 
<'ism,  as  did  Zacharias,  Elizabeth  and  IVfary.  Simeon  knew  (rod's 
speech.  That  suited  his  pious  mind  and  heart.  A  dream  was  suffi- 
cient for. Joseph  and  for  Mary,  too.  afterward;  and  was  the  chosen 
means  for  Nebuchadnezzar's  salvation.  (Dan.  i-.H!).  \Miile  Saul  of 
Tarsus  needed  a  light  from  Heaven  and  the  voice  of  Jesus  Christ. 
And  this  star  was  the  very  thing  for  these  Persian  astronomers. 

There  is  sufficient  divine  light  thrown  into  every  one's  work,  trach^ 
art,  business  or  profession  to  lead  the  soul  of  each  to  salvation  if  they 
will  but  receive  and  follow  it.  Through  His  abundant  and  various 
means  He  adapts  Himself  in  the  chances  of  salvation  to  every  human 
being.  The  Lord  is  so  good  to  us  all,  we  all  should  be  very  thankful 
to  Him.  In  calling  sinners  to  repentance;  in  calling  some  to  preach 
the  gospel,  He  comes  into  the  cHiue  of  (>ach,  adapting  liis_  calling  to 
the  peculiar  genius  and  habits  of  luind  in  each.     Sometimes,  coming 


G8.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

down  even  to  the  very  weakness  that  inheres  to  one's  environments. 
Some  require  more  of  the  supernatural  than  others.  Some,  like 
Gideon,  require  occular  demonstrations.  AMiile  in  others  a  gentle 
move  of  the  Spirit  on  the  heart  is  sufficient. 

As  we  see  from  the  Bible  in  some  instances,  His  workmen  were  "to 
the  manner  boi-n;"  as  Jeremiah,  Cyrus,  John  the  Baptist  and  St. 
Paul.  So  it  may  be  in  every  case  where  the  "Lord  of  all"  wants  a 
subject  for  some  special  work;  He  fits  him  first  with  natural  gifts  for 
it  before  he  is  born,  then  in  due  time  makes  known  to  him  his  call- 
ing and  qualifies  him  with  all  else  he  needs. 

There  is  nothing  that  mankind  need  done  for  them,  but  He  pre- 
pares a  genius  for  it.  Hence  we  see  in  all  nationalities  wonderful 
inventive  and  artistic  skill.  Others  may  be  astonished  at  the  won- 
derful skill  of  the  highly  endowed  musician,  but  they,  too,  can  do 
things  which  he  cannot  do.  Washington,  unsurpassed  as  a  soldier, 
had  not  the  gifts  of  the  orator.  A  great  thinker,  it  is  5aid,  had  not 
the  linguistic  faculties  to  clothe  his  thoughts  in  suitable  language. 
Every  man  has  his  proper  gifts  of  God  in  his  creation,  and  if  obedi- 
ent, he  will  find  his  true  calling  in  this  world. 

^^'hether  we  conclude  the  earth  began  by  miraculous  Creation,  or 
otherwise,  we  cannot  evade  the  fact  that  her  beginning  was  miracu- 
lous. Every  thing  outside  the  processes  of  nature  is  called  miracu- 
lous. Every  living  thing,  plant  or  animal,  now  existing  came  from 
a  parent  at  the  head  of  its  kind.  Therefore  the  first  parents  of  every 
living  thing  had  a  miraculous  beginning.  So  with  the  earth  ;  so  with 
all  things  connected  with  her.  There  was  a  beginning;  it  was 
miraculous.  The  start  of  nature  could  not  be  according  to  her 
natural  processes.  Every  organism  must  have  an  organic  form,  must 
be  a  being,  before  it  can  obey  the  laws  of  its  own  being,  which  are 
peculiar  to  itself. 

If  we  were  to  believe  the  geologists  we  would  think  the  world  has 
traveled  a  very  painful  course.  In  one  age  they  have  lier  hot  enough 
to  burn  up  everything  on  her;  and  in  another  cold  enough  to  freeze 
everything  to  deatli.  And  whatever  it  produced  to  grope  its  way  in 
misery  for  long  periods  of  time  unknown.  And  if  we  were  to  believe 
the  evolutionists,  the  real  ones,  we  would  think  we  had  come  a  piti- 
ful way — through  reptiles,  frogs  and  apes.  Worse  than  Jonah  in  the 
fish. 

How  much  better  it  is  to  take  that  sensible,  grand,  sublime  and 
happy  account  of  the  origin  of  all  things,  by  the  producer  of  all  things, 
given  us  in  His  word,  which  carries  within  itself  every  necessary  proof 
to  convince  every  one  that  it  is  the  Word  of  God.  If  any  one  shall 
do  so,  that  soul  shall  be  blest.  On  their  tlieories  they  had  as  well  to 
ascribe  to  the  age  of  the  earth  time  indefinite.  For  when  a  man 
guesses  at  a  date  and  has  to  qualify  his  guess  with  a  margin  of  indef- 
inite ages,  it  shows  he  knows  nothing  about  that  date.  Their  own 
printed  language  shows  that  they  do  not  know  anything  about  the 
dates  they  try  to  set  up.  Without  the  Bible  we  cannot  tell  anything 
about  the  age  of  the  earth,  except  wiiat  is  found  in  man's  hand-wri- 
ting some  where  or  othor.  The  excavators  have  found  very  much  on 
this  subject,  but  all  tlieir  finding  is  not  near  so  correct  as  what    we 


THE  STOKY  OF  (^liEATTON.  IW. 

Jiavo  in  the  Bible;  nor  so  old.  Even  with  the  Bible  we  inti}'  miss 
it  a  few  centuries — eight  or  ten,  perliaps.  \\'[tliout  the  Bible,  we  ean- 
not  tell  how  slie  came  to  be;  or  how  she  reeeived  her  form.  Without 
the  Bible  it  wouhl  all  be  mystery  t-i  u-^.  Bat  if  there  is  such  a  Crea- 
tor as  the  Bible  reveals  to  iis,  then  il  i-<  all  plain;  (>asily  understood. 
\\'ith  the  Bible  a  little  cliild  can  umlcrsland  it.  Fur  Ity  faith  we 
un(U'rstand,  Heb.  11  r^. 

The  children,  with  the  Bible,  can  understand  how  God  could  do  it, 
as  easy  as  they  can  understand  how  their  fathers  here  can  do  the 
thinojs  they  do  which  appear  very  great  to  little  children.  The  one  is 
as  easy  to  childhood  as  the  other.  No  stumbling  block  here.  (2  Tim. 
f*>:ir)).  It  will  do  the  same  for  men  if  tliey  will  do  right.  (John  7:17). 
ir  any  nuvn  stumbles  it  is  caused  by  the  darkness  of  his  own  sins. 
Never  did  a  person  raise  an  objection  to  revelation,  as  given  us  in  the 
Bible,  that  did  not  spring  out  of  sin.   (Matt.  15,  18,  19;  John  3:18-21). 


CIH AFTER  VI. 


The  Bible  does  not  mention  all  the  species  of  animals  that  were 
created;  but  it  says  to  the  children  of  men,  subdue  the  beasts  and 
have  dominion  over  them  all,'  alike  on  land  and  in  water.  That 
implies  a  warfare  between  the  human  species  and  all  the  rest,  more 
«)r  less  violent,  as  the  nature  of  each  would  require;  and  as  cajitors 
usually  do,  make  servants  of  all  they  can  utilize  to  their  advantage, 
and  kill  out  the  rest.  So  doubtless  did  those  first"  lords  over  the 
beasts. 

Our  forefathers  told  us  of  the  great  big  snakes  they  killed  out  of 
this  country;  and  of  wild,  harmful  animals,  too:  so  we  feel  quite 
safe  in  this  coiuitry  now  on  that  score.  So  has  it  been  in  the  first 
settling  of  all  countries  since  the  flood.  More  animals  were  saved  in 
the  ark  than  human  beings.  It  is  reasonable  that  the  beasts  would 
occupy  tlie  earth  first.  And  how  far  it  was  necessary  to  prejiare  the 
earth  for  man  we  do  not  know;  but  we  have  found  that  since  we 
have  had  our  forests  neitlier  burned  over,  nor  grazed,  since  the 
so-called  stock  law  has  been  in  force,  that  our  atmosphere  is  less 
pure  than  before,  our  health  consequently  impaired.  The  Indians 
found  the  beasts  here,  utilized  all  they  could,  and  killed  out  all  of 
the  rest  they  could;  because  their  women  and  children  were  afraid  of 
them.  When  the  wliite  men  came  they  did  same,  anrl  for  the  same 
reasons.  If  any  species  have  been  desti-fiyed  this.  1  think,  is  the 
])rime  cau.se  of  it. 

In  public  print,  February  17th,  I'.Xm,  it  is  said,  ■■that  the  Ameri- 
can officials  who  have  just  made  a  census  of  (hiba  report  Iniving 
found  in  the  mountains  of  the  interior  a  tribe  of  Indians  whose 
existence  was  previously  unknown." 

Now,  if  these  Indians,  without  intending  it,  could  remain  unknown 
to  white  men  for  4(J0  years  in  as  small  an  area  as  Cuba,  how  much 
more  reasonable  is  it  that  beasts  that  have  been  written  extinct  yet 
have  living  descendants  somewhere  in  this  wide  earth,  when  so 
nuich  of  its  area  remains  unexplored   by  civilized   man?     The  white 


TU.  THE  STOPtY  OF  (UlEATJON. 

men  did  not  know  for  four  conturios  that  tliose  Indians  were  in 
existence;  neither  do  these  writers  know  that  any  species  of  animals 
that  ever  existed  have  become  extinct.  Beeaiisi^  man's  present  infor- 
mation of  al]  lands  and  of  all  waters,  is  not  sufficient  for  him  to 
Ivnow  hilt  that  there  are  some  of  the  same  species  now  living  some- 
where. Men  are  not  able  to  know  all  that  are  now  living  on  all 
lands  and  in  all  waters  on  earth;  therefore,  it  is  not  true  to  say  any 
have  ceased  entirely. 

A  few  years  ago  camels  were  found  unexpectedly  by  some  hunlcrs 
in  our  western  territory.  I  never  have  acce]ited  it  as  a  fact  tiiat  any 
species  of  animals  has  become  extinct  out  of  the  whole  earth.  It  has 
not  yet  been  proven,  nor  can  it  be  wit!K)ut  a  much  fuller  knowledge 
of  all  lands  and  waters  of  the  earth. 

If  you  were  to  search  the  fields  of  the  conflicts  you  might  find  tlie 
r(»mains,  perhaps,  of  some  human  beings  with  the  relics  of  the  beasts 
tliey  slew;  tliough  we  would  not  know  but  that  other  forces  heaped 
tluMu  together  long  afterward.  Doubtless  that  has  been  true  of  that 
((uilc  universal  conflict  first  and  last;  for  Avhat  we  know  of  our  coun- 
try is  a  fair  sample  of  how  it  has  been  in  other  countries;  of  our  age 
hovv'  it  has  been  in  all  other  ages.  For  if  history  repeats  herself 
nature  rather.  The  language  of  revelation  implies  a  conflict  between 
the  two  and  a  universal  victory  for  man  over  them  all.  (Gen.  1 :2S, 
9. -'2).  What  man  does  not  feel  like  he  has  gained  a  victory  when  he 
has  subdued  a  monster  beast  of  any  kind?  The  savage  often  musters 
quite  a  company  of  men  to  capture  a  ferocious  beast. 

We  find  in  the  (^Id  Testament  times  the  Hebrews  were  often  afraid 
of  evil  beasts  ;  that  they  were  often  troubled  very  much  by  them.  Jacob 
feared  that  one  had  devoured  Joseph.  (J-od  often  threatened  to  pun- 
ish the  wicked  by  them.  That  many  of  the  Jews  should  be  destroyed 
in  their  wars  Avith  Babylon  by  beasts;  that  the  remnant  left  in  the 
country  after  that  war  could  scarcely  live  for  them.  That  furnishes 
a  good  criterion  by  which  to  judge  how  numerous  and  troublesome 
they  were  in  those  ages.  "The  irrepressible  conflict"  Avas  on,  and 
nature  and  the  Bible,  as  two  faithful  witnesses,  will  tell  the  story 
true.  We  should  not  wonder  if  surviving  monuments  of  that  war 
are  found ;  for  what  other  war  so  great,  so  wide  in  its  path,  leaves  no 
traces  of  its  victories  on  the  one  side  and  of  its  defeats  on  the  other? 
As  is  often  the  case  in  purely  human  conflicts,  the  weaker  is  quite 
exterminated,  so  should  we  not  be  surprised  if  by  analogy  in  this 
conflict  the  beasts  are  greatly  thinned  out,  almost  exterminated. 

The  Lord  Himself  decreed  that  the  Amalekites  should  be  extermi- 
nated. (Ex.  17:14.)  And  no  doubt  the  Sodomites  are  extinct.  And 
does  He  not  say,  "How  much  better  is  a  man  than  a  beast?"  If 
any  useless  and  evil  beasts  have  become  extinct,  it  was  because  He 
decreed  it  for  these  reasons. 

Our  friends  out  west  tell  big  tales  about  their  adventures  with  the 
with  the  wild  beasts  in  that  country;  and  I  guess  the  Indians  can 
beat  them.  It  seems  that  the  North  American  buffalo  by  and  by, 
perhaps,  will  be  known  only  in  history.  His  remains  may  furnish 
curios  for  some  future  seekers.  It  may  be  so,  too,  with  our  lions, 
pantliers  and  bears.     We  know  how  they  went  from  this  part  of  th,e 


TUl']  STORY  OF  OUKATION.  71. 

country;  •*()  llicy  must  have  ;;x)iu'  of  old,  as  far  as  thoj*  have  l)('on 
oxtonriinated.  ^lan  was  authorized  to  do  it,  if  ho  could  not  subdue 
iheiii  without.  One  of  the  promises  to  the  faithful  ones  is  that  tiie 
hrasis  shall  not  hurt  tiuMii.  (Hos.  L' :  1:5,  Is.  ;'>:>;!)).  Another  is  tliey 
shall  he  in  iieace  with  the  l)easl.<of  Ihc  field,  (.ioh  T)  :"2o).  And  victory 
over  them  is  promised  to  the  ^-odly  through  providence,  (Ps.  91:18). 

We  can  infer  from  this  h.ow  hard  it  was  to  prote  't  themselves  and 
women  and  children  in  those  days  from  the  destructive  l)easts.  And 
in  our  times  we  have  heard  of  a  bear  stealing  a  baby  from  the  cradle 
in  the  pioneer's  house  in  only  a  short  absence  of  its  parents;  and  of 
travelers  being'  devoured  by  them  as  in  times  of  old,  which,  if  duly 
a])preciated,  will  cause  us  to  be  the  more  interested  in  this  subject. 

But  the  beasts  have  been  good  pioneers  for  man ;  there  were  lauds 
in  the  wiregrass  regions  of  Georgia  that  the  first  settlers  said  were  not 
worth  cultivating  until  trod  by  animals;  they  were  too  poi'ous.  But 
jifter  being  trod  a  while,  would  produce  well.  In  this  part  of  our 
State  farmers  used  to  have  hard  work  to  subdue  a  canebrake,  but 
they  have  learned  an  easier  method.  Now  they  first  pasture  it ;  that 
kills  the  cane,  branch  and  root;  and  the  roots  rot  and  add  to  the 
richness  of  the  soil ;  whereas,  plowing  only  makes  the  cane  sprout  and 
grow  the  more.     The  beasts  are  good  pioneers  in  both  these  eases. 

This  may  have  been  the  Divine  order  of  preparing  the  earth  for 
general  cultivation  from  the  time  man  sinned.  Perhaps,  for  that 
purpose  in  the  long  ago,  those  larger  ones  were  the  more  necessary, 
as  they  Avould  answer  that  purpose  best,  and  were  needed  then  on 
top  of  the  ground  to  prepare  it  for  cultivation,  as  were  the  worms 
under  the  surfact.  And  when  they  ha,d  performed  their  task,  passed 
away,  at  least  from  those  countries  where  they  were  no  longer  useful. 

Since  the  majority  of  mankind  went  into  idolaty,  and  that  fol- 
lowed by  savage  life,  this  seems  to  be  the  providential  order:  Send 
(irst  the  beasts,  birds  and  all  land  animals  as  the  first  pioneers,  then 
savage  man,  then  civilized  man;  each  in  successive  turns  preparing 
the  way  for  the  other.  As  the  savage  pressed  the  animals,  so  civil- 
ized man  has  pressed  him.  And  with  an  irrepressible  conflict  will 
they  press  each  other  until  all  the  useless  beasts  and  savage  mankind 
are  exterminated  fi'om  the  earth ;  and  onlj' civilized  man,  and  such 
beasts  as  ho  can  use  some  way  or  other,  in  his  service  remain.  It 
seems  that  useless  beasts  in  civilized  countries,  and  savage  mankind 
are  things  that  will,  in  the  providence  of  God,  have  to  give  ihinr 
room  for  that  which  is  better.  The  Dinornis,  a  bird,  said  lobe  about 
twice  as  large  as  the  ostrich  is  reported  to  have  lived  in. New  Zealand 
until  about  the  beginning  of  the  18th  Gentury.  They  were  fat  and 
.stupid;  lived  entirely  on  vegetable  food  ;  had  brilliant  plunuige  ;  their 
flesh  was  good  for  food;  their  feathers  rich  for  commerce;  and  man's 
cupidity,  it  is  said,  has  pressed  them  out  of  existence.  Showing  how 
others  have  perished.  And  if  those  remains  found  of  them  unim- 
bedded  in  stone,  as  they  wei'o,  had  not  been  found  until  later  years, 
some  might  have  said  these  birds  never  existed,  for  all  of  their 
remains  would  have  decomposed;  no  trace  of  them  left  except  what 
could  have  been  gathered  from  the  natives  of  that  coiintry;  and 
skeptics  might  have  said,  as  some  want  to  say  of  the  revealed  account 


72.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

nf  Oi*ealloii,  "it  is  tradition."  But  aecnrdint,'  to  what  they  Htiy 
themselves  they  were  there,  and  mankind  was  there  with  them,  too, 
altoo;ether. 

After  the  flood  there  were  hut  few  men.  Tliey  were  unable,  there- 
fore, to  keep  under  the  natural  j^rowtli  of  the  fertile  earth ;  especial- 
ly, to  them,  useless  and  noxiotis  plants.  If  it  had  not  been  for  the 
help  of  the  beasts,  they  would  have  had  a  hai'der  time  in  subduing 
the  earth  to  cultivation.  The  beasts  also  increased  far  more  rapidly 
than  mankind  and  spread  over  all  the  earth  much  sooner  than  men. 

In  those  days  I  believe  Providence  kept  open  passes  for  the  purpose 
of  emigration  of  beasts,  as  well  as  of  malikind,  to  all  parts  of  the 
earth.  The  beasts  sent  first  by  providential  leadings,  and  men  in  due 
time  by  constraining  providence;  for  His  orders  to  both  were  to  mul- 
tiply and  fill  the  earth.  The  beasts  reccuved  their  orders  first,  as  they 
were  a  little  before  him.  Each  was  commanded  to  fill  the  earth  with 
its  own  species. 

There  was  nothing  then,  so  I  think,  to  prevent  them  from  cdming 
to  America;  nor  from  going  anywhere  else  where  was  drj'  land;  not 
even  to  the  polar  regions.  For  the  peculiar  conditions  that  prevail  there 
now  have  been  interposed  since  that  time,  so  I  think.  And  men  may 
so  find  by  and  by.  The  beasts  were  the  first  pioneers,  sent  of  God  to 
prepare  the  way  for  man,  so  all  the  earth  might  be  ready  for  him  at 
his  coming.  He  is  the  heir,  and  shall  diily  possess  it,  as  he  shall 
need  it. 

When  the  Lord  interposed  conditions  upon  mankind  that  caused 
them  to  scatter  over  all  the  earth,  no  doubt  He  put'  the  same  upon 
beasts  too,  for  nian's  sake  to  help  him  in  all  lands,  Gen.  11 :9.  I^ach 
peculiarity  in  both  man  and  beast,  from  its  own  sense  of  need  seek- 
ing the  most  congenial  clime  for  it.  In  the  course  of  time  their 
peculiarities  would  become  more  marked;  but  not  more  so  than  the 
peculiarities  of  mankind  that  occupied  the  same  regions.  Hence  it 
is,  no  doubt,  that  naturalists  are  puzzled  in  finding  different  animals 
in  different  parts  of  the  earth,  as  if  there  had  been  a  peculiar  fauna 
for  each  continent.  A  proper  study  of  the  Bible  in  connection  with 
the  natural  world  will  unravel  it  all.  The  inspired  writer  teaches, 
since  sin  entered  this  world  there  has  been  a  struggle  from  some 
opposing  conditions  somewhere  in  the  very  nature  of  things.  That 
both  mankind  and  all  the  brute  creation  have  suffered  from  it.  That 
they  groan  and  travail  in  pain  together,  (Rom.  8:20-28,)  as  if  to  be 
ilelivered  from  it — the  curse  of  sin.  His  language  implies,  so  I  think, 
that  mankind  and  the  living  world  below  them  have  been  in  this 
struggle  together  from  the  time  it  began.  In  every  generation  of 
earth  unto  the  present.  That,  I  think,  agrees  with  Genesis.  And  I 
believe  it  has  been  experienced  by  them  all  from  the  first  sin  and  its 
curse  until  now.  Pie  says:  ''We  know  that  the  whole  creation 
groaneth  and  travaileth  in  pain  together  until  now."  It  was  com- 
monly understood  that  mankind  and  beasts  had  all  dwelt  together 
and  suffered  together  in  every  generation  of  earth.  He  does  not  say 
travel,  as  in  a  march  to  a  given  point,  but  travail  as  to  the  time  of 
deliverance.     In  His  mercy  to  man,  He  adapted  the  conditions  of  the 


TJJE  STORY  OF  (IREATIOX.  7;J. 

l)ensls  ill  fvcry  pari  of  1  he  (\'irt  h,  to    His  own    pt'culiar  coiidit i(;ns  in 
every  place. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Fi;().\i  the  lii-st,  animal.^  increased  much  faster  tlinn  manlvind.  And 
from  M\e  foxve  of  circumsl.ances.  stood  far  more  chances  for  tln^ir 
remains  to  be  preserved  in  nature.  Hence,  we  might  expect  to  lind 
them  earlier,  and  far  more  numerous.  So  from  the  facts  of  Bible  jiis- 
tory  we  might  reasonably  suppose  there  would  be  found  more 
remains  of  animals  preserved  by  natural  processes  than  of  man. 

And  when  are  found  remains  of  vegetable  organisms,  or  of  animals, 
or  of  human  beings;  where  are  chemical  properties  .sufficient  to  liold 
them  in  a  state  of  preservation  we  should  not  be  astonished,  for  such 
things  frequently  happen,  as  in  an  earthquake.  An  earthquak(> 
often  swallows  up  everything  in  a  large  district.  And  if  there  an- 
chemical  properties  there  sufficient  to  preserve  them,  they  all — 
human  beings,  animals,  implements  of  all  kinds,  and  houses  may  be 
preserved.  But  what  proof  is  that  of  nature's  regular  course?  It  is 
an  exception  to  her  rule.  And  what  proof  is  there  in  that  that  there 
were  no  other  kinds  of  plants  or  animals  then  in  th'e  world  than  tliose 
whose  remains  are  found  in  that  place?  Or  as  in  the  eruption  of  a 
volcano,  the  flowing  lava  is  liable  to  enclose  anything,  dead  or  alive, 
that  may  be  in  its  path.  But  what  could  it  prove  but  that  those 
things  were  there  at  that  time?  It  would  be  no  proof  that  there 
were  not  at  that  time  other  species  of  animals  or  plants  on  earth 
whose  remains  are  not  preserved  in  that  lava.  Or  shall  we  say  that 
there  were  no  other  species  of  animals  or  plants  other  than  are  found 
in  the  ruins  of  Pompeii,  living  in  the  world  at  that  time?  It  would 
be  as  reasonable  as  to  say  nothing  lived  on  this  earth  dill'crent  from 
the  remains  which  are  found  preserved. 

Where  are  all  the  other  things  that  were  in  the  Roman  emjiire 
when  that  catastrophe  occurred,  than  what  is  there  preserved,. in  the 
dust?  The  common  receptacle  of  all,  with  few  exception's'.  And 
where  are  all  the  other  species  of  life  not  preserved  by  nature  in  tlic 
different  geological  ages?  In  the  dust;  and  existence  no  man  can 
them  deny.  Shall  we  argue  from  the  general  rule  in  nature,  or  from 
the  exceptions?  We  all  know  that  the  general  course  of  nature  is  for 
all  living  things,  when  they  die,  for  their  bodies  to  decompose,  and 
it  is  God's  decree  that  they  vshould  go  back  to  the  earth ;  "dust  thou 
art,  and  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return,"  (Gen.  8:19),  is  written  upon 
them  all.  and  that  any  are  preserved  against  it  is  only  an  exception 
that  providence  for  some  reason  permits.  Therefore,  all  that  are  not 
preserved  in  art  or  nature  raingU'  together  in  common  dust.  That 
is  the  Irulh  in  all  from  the  first  geiu'ration  of  earth  until  the  present; 
andlltal  no  remains  of  any  particular  species  ai'e  not  preserved, 
found  or  not,  is  no  proof  wlia1(n'cr  thai  it  has  not  existed  in  every 
generation  of  earth  till  now. 

From  the  fJible  we  uudei-stand  that  the  earth  was  in  a  chaotic 
state  at  first.     I  wouUl  suppose  that  the  a/oic  rocks  were  then  formed. 


74.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATTOX. 

and  it  may  have  been  by  fusion.  We  know  there  is  internal  heat 
and  fire  in  the  earth;  and  have  been  as  long  as  known  to  man,  the 
earth  liath  been.  Many  rocks  were  doubtless  thus  formed  in  Crea- 
tion, and  many  since  have  been  so  formed.  And  the  Bible  further 
teaches  that  the  whole  earth  was  under  water  prior  to  the  third  day, 
when  the  Lord  made  the  seas  and  the  dry  land  to  appear.  Many  aqua- 
tie  rocks  may  have  been  then  formed  by  the  powerful  action  of  the 
water.  And  it  would  be  analogous  to  what  He  afterward  did  in  cre- 
ating the  water  animals  in  the  water,  and  the  land  animals  on  the 
land  ;  every  one  was  adapted  to  its  element.  So  it  may  have  been  in 
the  making  of  the  rocks.  But  everything  in  Creation  was  miracu- 
lous. Creation  herself  a  stupendous  miracle.  And  we  know  many 
rocks  have  been  formed  since  by  the  action  of  water. 

Those  that  have  no  fossils  may  have  been  formed  before  any  kind 
of  life  existed  on  the  earth.  Or,  if  formed  since,  had  no  opportunity 
to  embrace  any.  Or,  perhaps,  no  chemical  properties  were  present 
to  preserve  them.  These  foi-tuitous  conditions  have  to  blend  together 
for  nature  to  hold  any  in  a  state  of  preservation.  So  it  is  always  an 
exception  to  her  general  rule  for  any  to  be  preserved  in  organic  form. 
It  was  said  of  old,  "the  voice  of  the  people  is  the  voice  of  God." 
^^'hen  the  so-called  facts  of  these  writei's  are  brought  before  the 
judgment  of  mankind  they  will  be  rejected.  For  they  ai'e  not  facts; 
and  every  thinking  per.son  will  see  they  do  not  agree  with  nature. 

It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  in  regard  to  the  formation  of  both  aquatic 
and  igneous  rocks,  the  geologists  and  the  Bible  are  quite  close 
together.  I  believe  by  both  of  these  forces.  He  then,  while  the  earth 
was  passing  from  chaos  to  her  permanent  form,  jDroduced  as  many 
rocks  as  He  saw  best.  And  by  the  same  forces  since,  some  suddenly 
and  some  slowly.  As  a  matter  of  course,  she  must  have  had  rocks 
all  through  her  then,  and  on  to^D,  too.  The  best  evidence  we  have 
that  she  did,  is  the  fact  she  has  tliem  now. 

And,  of  course,  all  then  formed  could  have  no  remains  of  life  in 
them ;  for,  before  the  third  day,  not  even  any  plants  had  been  cre- 
ated;  nor  any  animals  until  the  fifth  day.  Therefore,  no  forms  of 
animal  life,  dead  or  alive,  could  be  embraced  in  any  rocky  formation 
made  before  the  fifth  day.  And,  perhaps,  nothing  at  that  until 
something  had  died ;  and,  of  course,  we  have  no  means  of  knowing 
when  life  first  yielded  to  death. 

There  may  have  been  some  terrible  catastrophe  in  nature  when 
man  sinned.  Doubtless  all  nature  was  convulsed  at  that,  and  Provi- 
dence showed  His  rebukes  in  nature  as  well  as  in  woi*d.  The  earth 
bears  witness  against  it  today.  It  struck  deeper  into  the  earth  than 
man  will  ever  be  able  to  go.  That,  no  doubt,  was  the  beginning  of 
all  the  irregularities  that  are  found  anywhere  in  the  structure  of  the 
earth.  And  as  mankind  have  sinned,  they  have  become  the  more 
frequent.  Death  could  not  begin  until  after  man  sinned.  That 
catastrophe  may  have  caused  as  a  sacrifice  some  plants,  as  the  Lord 
afterward  required  grain,  oil  and  fruit  in  sacrifices;  and  animals,  too, 
and  animals  to  be  swallowed  up  by  an  earthquake,  or  other  convul- 
sion, throughout  the  whole  earth,  as  a  perpetual  witness  of  His 
displeasiire  against  man's  sin. 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATION.  75, 

No  doubt  the  first  dry  land  was  the  rocky-l'aced  Himalayas.  No 
animal  nor  vegetal)le  remains  could  then  be  embraced  iu  her  rocks. 
Xor  in  the  rocks  of  Ararat  nor  Hermon.  All  of  them  had  a  plenty 
o^f  rocks,  and  of  various  kinds.  So  did  all  the  dry  land,  as  it  solidi- 
fied for  those  that  were  to  occupy  it,  and  became  more  and  more  so 
up  to  the  time  He  occupied  it  with  plants,  animals  and  human  kind. 
But  of  that  period  before  sin  came,  has  nature,  as  good  as  she  is,  and 
as  liberal,  too,  never  a  relic  furnished  us.  She  was  too  poor  at  that 
time  to  save  us  a  single  one ;  she  was  not  prepared  then  to  deal  in 
fossils.  In  this  ])articular  the  geological  azoic  age  agrees  with  Bible 
history. 

And  when  death  prevailed  it  would  naturally  take  the  weaker  and 
shorter-lived  first ;  and  so  would  casualties  in  nature.  Falling  in 
death,  or  imbedded,  where  were  agencies  in  sufficient  quantity  to 
pi'eserve  them,  those  so  environed  would  be  preserved  in  organic 
form.  The  inferior  creatures  on  land,  and  especially  in  water,  were 
much  more  abundant  in  Creation  than  the  larger  ones;  and  especially 
of  our  domestic  animals,  and  also  increased  more  rapidly.  If,  there- 
fore, more  remains  of  these  weak,  short-lived  creatures  are  found  in 
the  first  of  what  is  called  paleozoic  time  than  of  others,  or  even 
when  no  others  are  found,  it  is  agreable  to  Scriptui-e,  for  the  Lord 
created  those  in  the  water  first;  and  it  is  on  sea  shoi'es  where  it 
is  said  they  are  supposed  to  be  most  ancient  and  numerous.  "And 
(rod  said,  Let  the  waters  bring  forth  abundantly  the  moving  crea- 
tures that  hath  life."  (Gen.  1 : •20-21).  And  the  waters  brought  forth 
abundantly  living  creatures  after  their  kind.  Nor  was  the  command 
limited  to  any  water — 'waters." 

Think  of  how  many  generations  of  these  weak,  short-lived  creatures 
might  have  died  out  during  the  life  time  of  Adam,  9;i()  years,  and  it 
is  reasonable  that  the  live.-i  of  larger  animals,  and  especially  our 
domestic  animals,  would  be  in  the  same  proportion  in  length  as  they 
are  now  to  man's  life.  So  it  may  have  been  centuries  in  paleozoic 
time  before  nature  had  ah  opportunity  to  catch  any  to  preserve 
them.  And  whether  she  did,  or  did  not,  it  is  no  proof  that  all  species 
now  in  existence  did  not  then. live.  The  law  of  death  went  to  work 
immediately  after  man  sinned,  with  the  inevitable  result  of  decom- 
position following  in  its  path,  and  that  any  have  escaped  that  result 
is  only  an  exception  that  Providence  allowed. 

Geologists  have  made  two  mistakes  ;  one  is  by  claiming  that  fossils 
are  in  nature's  regular  order,  whereas,  decomposition  and  dust  are  in 
her  regular  order,  and  fossils  are  but  exceptions  to  her  general  rule. 
The  other  is,  in  giving  ages  when  their  own  statements  show  tiuit 
they  cannot  come  anyways  near  the  true  dates. 

It  is  not  probable  anj^way  that  the  remains  of  man's  domestic 
animals  would  be  preserved  in  those  distant  ages;  for  they,  like 
men,  were  comparatively  few,  and  shared  with  man  His  providential 
protection.  And  under  these  circumstances,  as  it  is  witli  mankind, 
would  be  more  likely  to  return  to  dust.  We  know  that  beasts  would 
not  bury  themselves,  would  not  bury  each  other;  nor  would  men  be 
apt  to  bury  them.  So,  unburied,  it  would  hai'dly  be  that  any  would 
escape  the  inevitable  law  for   all.     We   w(juid   suppose   the   most   of 


7U.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

those  that  are  prpserved  from  decomposition  were  swiillowed  up 
alive;  and  where  such  casualt-ies  occur  are  the  more  likely  to  be 
chemical  properties  to  prevent  decomposition.  In  any  age  those 
that  perish  that  way  are  few  to  the  whole  bulk  of  the  generation 
that  go  back  to  earth.  All  of  the  preserved  in  fossils  in  any  age, 
therefore,  are  few  when  compared  with  their  contemporaries  that 
went  to  dust.  To  dust  again  Is  the  Divine  decree;  is  inevitable  to 
all.  unless  He  suffers  it  prevented. 

Even  the  rocks  die.  I  noticed  many  decaying  ones  when  I  was  a 
small  boy;  crushed  many  a  one.  I  thought  then  that  they  added 
their  bulk  to  the  soil.  We  observe  many  in  a  decaying  state  in  rail- 
road cuts  and  beds  of  common  I'oads,  showing  that  much  of  the 
strata  of  the  earth  is  soft.  Well  di^^gers  find  the  same  to  be  true; 
sometimes  they  can  cut  through,  and  sometimes  they  have  to  blast 
it  oxit.  In  slaie  stone  countries  some  of  it  is  called  rotten  slate  and 
some  hard.  Hence  the  expression,  "hard  slate."  When  the  rocks 
die  they  return  to  the  earth,  as  does  a  tree.  Sliall  we  say  they  never 
existed  for  that? 

\'\"e  have  no  evidence  of  the  forms  of  those  thfit  decomposed,  except 
in  the  forms  of  their  living  representatives.  Of  course  common  his- 
tory and  the  Bible  help  us  much  in  that  quest.  The  wicked  is 
removed  and  his  place  on  earth  cannot  be  found  ;  nor  is  the  righteous 
more  fortunate  as  to  that.  So  has  it  been  witli  man  and  beast  in 
general  since  sin  and  death  ensued. 

It  is  obvious  if  nature  were  to  make  a  deposit  today  by  any  means 
whatsoever,  she  woiild  embrace  in  that  deposit  those  things  that 
should  be  in  her  way  in  that  place  at  that  time.  But  it  does  not  fol- 
low fpr  that,  that  there  are  no  different  species  in  the  world  today 
than  would  J>e  embraced  in  that  dejjosit.  Xor  would  it  be  at  all 
true  for  the  future  to  suppose  that  all  the  species  of  animals  and 
vegetables  now  living  in  the  woi-ld,  were  embraced  in  that  deposit. 
Such  a  thing  could  not  be  possible.  It  would  take  a  miracle  to  bring- 
some  of  every  species  within  the  range  of  that  catastrophe.  Nor 
would  anything  short  of  miraculous  interposition  have  pi'esei'vod  some 
of  every  species  of  plant  and  animal,  in  everj'  generation,  from  the 
first  until  now. 

The  truth  is,  the  nretty  butterflies  and  beautiful  moths  liave 
blessed  every  age  of  the  world,  together  with  the  hosts  of  other  flying 
insects,  have  with  comparatively  few  exceptions  returned  to  dust; 
but  before  they  left,  prepared. for  their  kinds  to  fill  the  world  after 
them.  They  flUed  their  missions  and  fell  on  sleep.  Happy  for  us  if 
we  do  so  well  in  our  higher  spheres  of  being.  And  evei*y  age  of  the 
world  has  heard  "the  singing^  of  birds ;"  have  enjoyed  their  winged 
beauty,  pretty  plumage;  shared  in  the  good  they  bring  to  nature  in 
general.  But  they  died;  and  with  comparatively  few  exceptions 
returned  to  their  dust.  But  in  the^  favor  of  Providence,  others  in 
regular  succession  filled  their  happy  places.  Xor  did  ever|  one,  not 
even  the  least,  fall  to  the  ground,  go  to  dust,  without  His  notice. 
They  did  His  will  and  fell  asleep,  to  rise  no  more.  Their  remains  are 
not  in  organic  form  to  be  found.  But  shall  the  world  be  deprived  of 
the  precious  legacy  of  their  past  hi.>itory  for  that? 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  77 


(^HAPTKH  VTII 


It  was  sonu'  iimt'  later,  too,  than  C -real  ion's  week  liefore  tleatli  lier- 
self  I'urnisluHl  any  relies,  whether  preserved  or  not .  And  nature,  it 
seems,  did  not  act  violently  enou<^h  in  those  first  times  following 
Creation  to  swallow  tliem  up  alive.  The  first  catastrophe  was  man's 
sin.  And  we  are  not  informed  how  long  he  had  lived  before  that  sad 
event  occurred.  The  curse  of  God,  it  is  true,  following  sin.  had  a 
very  great  effect  upon  all  nature  on  earth.  Yet  it  is  highly  probal)le, 
from  the  Bil)l(\  I  hat  death  did  not  prevail  with  much  success  before 
the  Hood. 

St.  Paul  sa3\s:  "Death  reigned  from  Adam  to  Moses — even  over 
them  that  had  not  sinned  after  the  similitude  of  Adam's  transgres- 
sion," Rom.  5:14.  That  is  a  sin  like  that  Adam  committed — a  known 
sin.  \Vho  is  it  that  sinned  not  after  that  fashion,  except  unaccount- 
able persons — as  little  children?  It  seems  that  the  most  of  those 
that  died  before  the  flood  were  infants  and  small  children.  They 
would  naturally  be  decomposed ;  no  relic  of  them  would  hardly  be 
preserved  anywhere  in  nature.  And  the  only  history  we  have  of  the 
antediluvian  world,  mentions  no  catastroplie  to  swallow  them  up 
alive.  The  Lord  allowed  men  to  live  a  long  while  and,  of  course,  the 
lives  of  women  were  quite  as  long.  Hence,  there  would  not  be  many 
deaths  among  them ;  and,  no  doubt,  were  all  decently  buried,  and 
decomposed;  so  no  remains  of  them  could  now  be  found.  Neither 
did  they,  we  would  siippose,  venture  abroad  in  the  first  ages  very 
much  wdiere  they  would  be  exposed  to  unusual  dangers. 

It  is  probable,  too,  the  length  of  the  lives  of  animals  bore  an  equal 
proportion  to  man's  life,  as  they  do  now.  Especially  his  domestic 
animals;  so  only  comparatively  few  of  them  would  die  in  the  first 
centuries.  Nor  was  man  authorized  to  kill  them  before  the  flood, 
except  for  sacrifice,  and  then  their  carcasses  were  burnt  on  the  altar. 
It  may  be  true,  also,  that  the  beasts  on  land  and  in  water,  too,  did 
not  oppose  each  other  in  those  times.  Man  lived  on  vegetable  diet 
only,  before  the  flood.  Joseph  says,  "it  was  one  cause  of  their  long^i^ 
lives."  As  we  find  in  Genesis T:26  the  same  law  of  diet  applied  to 
beasts  also.  As  in  Genesis  9  :8,  they  were  authorized  for  the  first 
time  to  eat  flesh;  the  same  law,  too,  was  extended,  no  doubt,  to  ani- 
mals; thence'they  began  to  prey  upon  one  another; 

And  there  is  no  record  of  a  war  before  the  time  of  Abraham  and 
Lot.  It  is  true  there  was  violence  before  the  flood,  in  the  last  cen- 
tury thereof,  but  it  does  not  follow  that  it  extended  to  death.  The 
Lord  punished  Cain  so  severely  that  it  appears  to  have  restrained  all 
from  slaying  one  another.  So,  if  no  remains  for  the  first  of  the  pal- 
ezoic  ages  are  found,  except  inferior,  short-lived  creatures,  it  is  just 
what  we  would  expect  from  a  comparison  with  the  Bible  history  of 
the  first  millennium  after  Creation. 

Some  geologists  say  they  find  there  has  been  a  break  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  earth's  structure,  or  crust  at  least,  that  there  are  evi- 
dences of  some  upheaval  which  caused  irregularities;  thence  a 
different  order  of  general  fornuvtion  set  in,  and  from  that  time 
forward  they  find  many  more    fossils   than    before,  of  more  different 


rs.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

species  lh:m  before;  tliat  this  period  was  followed  by  a  glacial  period 
in  tlie  temperate  zones;  and  that  jDeriod  by  what  they  style  the 
present  agricultural  mold  with  all  its  outcome  since. 

Xow,  I  believe,  that  upheaval  was  caused  by  the  great  catastrophe 
of  the  universal  flood;  when  the  Almighty  passed  over  all  the  earth 
in  tremendous  judgment  on  account  of  the  sins  of  mankind.  The 
internal  structure  of  the  earth  then  suffered  many  changes  as  well  as 
did  her  surface.  The  rich  deposits  they  write  about,  I  think,  were 
made  by  the  recedence  of  those  tremendous  waters.  The  time  they 
say  man  appeared  on  the  earth  with  his  domestic  animals,  I  believe, 
was  then.  And  the  many  things  they  tind  now  in  a  preserved  state 
of  all  the  different  species  there  found,  are  the  remains  of  the  ante- 
diluvian world.  Never  had  a  chemist  a  laboriitory  so  complete  as 
nature  had  then  for  preserving  relics  of  -her  pre-existing  inhabitants 
before  the  deluge.  It  was  well  for  her  to  do  so,  for  those  in  the  ark 
liad  all  they  could  carry  to  bring  over  into  the  new  world.  This,  I 
believe,  is  the  beginning  of  the  newer  system  they  write  about.  Nor 
do  I  believe  there  ever  v,-as  a  glacial  period  before  that  time,  nor 
since.  Such  a  flood  as  the  Bible  describes  would  be  oi:>liged  to  sweep 
the  poles  of  the  earth  with  tropical  waters,  and,  of  course,  those 
waters,  incalculably  great,  would  move  the  arctic  and  antarctic  ice 
out,  and  it  would  be  but  a  natural  result  for  much  of  it  to  settle 
upon  the  temperate  zones.  When  it  melted  after  the  recedence  of 
the  waters,  it  would  cause  many  drifts,  and  that  for  a  long  while. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  the  flood  did  not  coVer  the  whole  earth  ; 
but  very  much  that  it  did.  Traditions  of  men  acknowledge  that  it 
was  in  every  continent  of  earth ;  nature,  in  every  continent  of  earth, 
gives  forth  her  corroborating  testimony,  even  to  tjie  tops  of  her  high- 
est mountains.  Go  where  you  may,  and  she  virtually  says,  "Noah's 
Hood  was  here." 

After  one  hundred  and  fifty  days  the  fountains  of  the  deep  that 
had  been  furnishing  water  supplies  to  keep  the  highest  mountains  of 
all  the  earth  covered  were  stopped.  Gen.  7:20,  8:1-8.  And  by  the 
seventeenth  of  the  seventh  month  the  waters  had  assuaged  enough 
for  the  ark  to  rest  upon  Ararat,  Exactly  five  months,  allowing  thirty 
days  for  a  month,  from  the  time  the  flood  began  ;  Noah  was  a  learned 
man  and  kept  the  exact  dates.  About  the  time  the  ark  rested,  doubt- 
less many  and  very  great  mountains  of  'ice  from  the  poles  were 
caught  in  their  course  afloat  upon  the  tremendous  waters  and  settled 
in  the  mountains  of  the  temperate  zones.  Or  in  any  they  might  be 
arrested  by.  This  is  the  natural  reason  why  they  settled  more  on 
mountains,  for  they  were  the  tallest  parts  of  the  earth,  and  their 
forests  offered  the  first  resistance  to  their  floating.  No  doubt  but 
the  recedence  of  the  waters  left  many  of  them,  great  fields,  as  it  were, 
continents  of  them,  still  unmelted.  And  it  may  be  it  took  the  heat 
of  many  summers  to  melt  it  off.  So  there  would  be  annual  over- 
flows, as  some  writers  speak  of  the  coal  fields  showing  signs  of  several 
inundations  of  either  marine  or  fresh  water.  This  woufd  partake  of 
both  salt  and  fresh  water;   mostly  salt,  however. 

The  ice,  no  doulit,  would  press  the  forest  under  its  great  weight; 
and,  asj!  the  account   says,  every  living  thing  would   die.     And'  the 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATION.  70. 

forests  thus  erasliod,  crushed  uikUt  iiuul,  too,  t'oHowing  tlie  U'O,  per- 
Jiaps,  made  no  doubt  great-  wealtJi  of  coal  for  future  generations. 
The  mountains  are  usually  richest  of  all  parts  of  the  earth  in  coal, 
and  this  is  a  good  reason  for  it.  Of  course  mucli  of  it,  as  in  caj'es 
and  other  favpral)le  places  for  the  materials  to  settle,  would  be  buried 
very  deep;  and  of  course  drifts  would  be  made  by  the  melting  ice 
clear  out  to  the  sea  coast,  or  other  botlies  of  water.  Nature  had  a 
splendid  opportunity  to  lay  the  foundation  then  of  the  vastest  coal 
hekls  that  she  has  ever  made.  And  under  the  providence  of  (rod  I 
believe  she  used  it  well;  she  used,  too,  I  think,  the  great  opportu- 
nity of  preserving  fossils  on  a  wider  scale  than  she  ever  liad  before, 
or  since. 

Some  writers  have  been  speculating  tluit  another  ghiciai  period 
may  visit  the  temperate  zones.  1  do  not  think  tlu^re  will  ever  be 
another.  But  the  Bible  is  understood  to  teach  that  fire  will  sweep 
over  the  whole  earth  and  destroy  all  of  mini's  physical  works  from 
the  earth. 

Though  some  try  to  comfort  themselves  with  the  idea  that  it  is 
only  figurative  language.  So  it  was  about  the  flood.  <^nly  eight 
persons  believed  it,  prepared,  and  were  saved  by  faith.  Christ  says, 
"Be  ye  also  ready."  Be  always  prepared;  stand  in  readiness,  for  ye 
know  not  tlie  time  when  it  shall  come. 

I  do  not  believe  there  will  ever  be  another  glacier  period  in  the 
temperate  zones.  Xor  do  I  believe  there  ever  was  any  other  period 
of  time  that  could  have  produced  such  an  event  as  that,  except  the 
(hduge;  there  is  no  other  w^ay,  so  T  think,  to  account  for  it  than  this. 
There  wei-e  forces  enough  at  work  then  to  produce  it,  but  not  before 
nor  since,  such  a  thing,  so  I  think.  And  we  showed  sufficient  reasons 
before,  I  believe,  why  it  could  not  be  sooner. 


r-HAPTER  TX. 

I  J!i:iJKVK  many  very  large  deposits  of  animals,  vegetables  and 
other  remains  were  made  by  the  flood.  Water  was  then  over  all  the 
earth.  ((}en.  7:19).  It  was  a  whole  year  before  Noah  and  the  rest 
could  leave  the  ark,  on  account  of  the  land  being  too  wet.  And 
doubtless  much  of  it  loiter  than  a  year  in  drying.  All  the  fountains 
of  the  great  deep  were  broken  up  to  furnish  water  sulflcient  to  cover 
the  mountains.  And  fifteen  cubits  above  the  highest  of  them  did 
the  water  prevail ;  probably  triumphed.  This  was  the  first  time  they 
had  been  turned  loose  since  the  third  day  of  Creation.  Now  for  this 
length  of  time  they  rioted  all  over  the  whole  of  their  old  territory. 

Having  in  them  ever}^  variety  of  water  in  the  whole  earth — in  a 
happy  condition  for  preserving  all  kinds  of  organisms,  she  laid  then 
the  foundation  for  it  on  a  lai'ge  scale,  to  be  perfected  afterward.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  so  many  are  reported  to  be  found  corresponding 
so  well  with  what  might  be  expected  from  the  record  of  that  wonder- 
ful event.  They  floated  on  the  waters — were  as  liable  to  settle  in  one 
continent  as  another.  So  where  they  are  found  is  no  pi-oof  that  they 
lived  there  before  they  perished.  Many,  no  doubt,  were  borne  far 
away  from  tlieir  native  places.     Tlu'  remains  coidil   not  indicate  that 


so.  THE  STORY  OF  CRP:ATI0N. 

tlie  iiulividuuls  lived  wliere  tliey  are  found.  Hence  some  peculiar  to 
Africa  may  be  found  in  Europe.  And  a  naturali.st  not  understanding 
the  Bible  account  of  the  flood,  would  not  understand  how  happened 
them  to  be  deposited  there.  Some  too,  peculiar  to  cold  countries, 
might  be  dropped  in  southern  lands,  but  it  would  not  he  proof  that 
they  ever  lived  tliere.  A  proper  consideration  of  the  effects  of  the 
deluge  will  relieve  the  difficulties  in  settling  all  such  questions. 

Being  found  in  certain  localities  does  not  prove,  therefore,  that  the 
individuals  lived  there.  For  by  the  powerful  waters  of  that  flood  the 
previous  order  of  things  in  all  the  earth  was  torn  quite  all  to  Dieces. 
Some  that  lived  in  the  far  seuth  may  have  been  lodged  at  the  north; 
unless  the  mountains,  being  the  highest  parts  of  the  earth,  would 
get  the  first  claim  to  these  kinds  of  settlers.  Even  the  Ark,  with  all 
its  cargo  settled  on  a  high  mountain.  And  if  it  was  a  law  of  nature 
for  her  to  do  so,  then  the  mountains  had  the  priority  to  all  these  kind 
of  settlers  and  got  a  large  majority  of  them.  No  man  need  be  sur- 
prised to  hear  of  sea  shells  or  other  remains  of  sea  life  in  any  part 
of  the  earth,  even  upon  the  tops  of  the  highest  mountains.  ^Vhile  it^ 
does  not  prove  that  they  lived  there,  it  is  a  proof  that  the  waters  of 
the  deluge  were  there.  For  the  sea  went  thundering  over  them  all  in 
time  of  the  flood.  It  is  duml)  nature's  voice  testifying  to  all  who  will 
read  and  study  Ood's  ^^'ord  in  proof  of  it — the  flood. 

In  the  time  of  the  flood  there  were  none  to  bury  the  numerous  dead. 
It  was  God's  battle,  and  He  buried  the  dead — being  victorious — hold- 
ing the  field.  He  did  it  well .  Some  of  them  He  put  far  below  the  future 
surface  of  the  earth  when  she  should  become  settled.  And  some  He 
embalmed.  The  great  majority,  however,  after  interment,  decora- 
posed  and  returned  to  the  earth.  It  was  one  of  His  designs  in  pre- 
serving what  He  did,  and  as  He  did,  to  help  man  materially,  as  well 
as  to  help  his  faith  in  God  and  the  Bible  when  they  should  be  found. 
But  Satan  always  tries  to  thwart  all  the  good  he  can ;  so  he  goes 
along  with  them,  to  get  them  to  misinterpret  it  if  he  can. 

As  coal,  oil,  and  other  substances,  men  utilize  from  those  beds  of 
matter  then  made,  have  been  prepared  in  nature's  laboratory  by  His 
providence  for  man's  use.  It  was  also  His  providence  when  it  was 
ready  and  mankind  needed  them,  that  led  them  to  find  them.  Xow 
shall  we,  because  He  has  deposited  along  witli  the  useful  that  which 
excites  our  curiosity,  and  greater  admiration,  as  He  has  done  In  all 
of  His  works,  deny  His  word  and  Himself  too?  How  iingrateful  it 
would  be  I 

Those  who  find  them,  and  those  who  e^.rcj.se  them  should  be  thank- 
ful to  Him  for  them,  rather  than  thereby  try  to  influence  people  to 
disbelieve  His  word, His  providence  and  His  grace.  And  we  would 
do  well  to  consider  what  the  poet,  Heber,  says  about  the  general  state 
of  the  human  dead  : 

"Their  bones  are  in  the  clay. 
And  ere  is  gone  another  day, 
Ourselves  may  be  as  they." 

Suppose  there  are  evidences  found  by  excavators  that  this  I'ounti'y 
enjoyed  civilization  before  the  flood,  it  would    be  considered   a   proof 


/=* 


THE  STORY  OF  CKEATION.  SI. 

Ihiit  civiliziHl  men  lived  lu-re  bcl'oro  llic  dcluji;!';  but  would  bo  (juitp 
as  probable  that  tliey  woro  only  deposited  there  by  the  recediiisj: 
waters  of  that  flood,  it  bein^-  a  universal  deluge.  It  would  be  if  th(\v 
aetually  lived  here,  n  proof  that  land  passaji;es  were  then  open  for 
them  and  their  domestic  animals  to  pass  over  on,  rather  than  that 
they  navigated  water  of  any  great  breadth  to  get  here. 

Wliether  mankind  had  spread  over  the  earth  that  much  before  the 
Hood  or  not,  evidence  is  not  wanting  tliat  the  whole  earth  has  been 
submei'ged  by  the  sea.  And  remains  of  sea  life  found  so  frequently 
far  away  from  sea  shoi-es,  even  on  mountains,  should  be  taken  in  evi- 
dence of  the  universality  of  the  flood,  I  think,  ral  her  1  ban  of  any 
ot  lier  occurrence.  The  Bible,  history  and  nature  justify,  I  believe, 
that  claim — that  the  Hood  was  over  all  the  earth. 

Ooal  being  mostly  of  vegetable  origin,  it  must  have  been  formed  by 
the  conversion  of  forests  into  that  sulistance,  on  a  much  larger  s<'ale 
than  a  blacksmith  pt'cpares  his  charconl,  but  on  a  process  somewhat 
similar. 

In  oi'der  for  it  to  be  produced,  the  lands  where  it  is  found  must  have 
been  covered  over  before  with  forests.  It  could  not  have  been  before 
the  earth  was  covered  with  forests.  When  the  whole  earth  was  under 
water  at  Creation,  there  were  no  forests  then.  There  is  no  period 
when  the  foundation  for  the  coal  found  in  the  earth  so  extensively  in 
all  continents  as  it  is  to-day,  could  have  been  laid  except  the  univer- 
sal flood.     Then,  no  doubt,  much  forest  was  buried. 

If  it  was  spring  in  some  latitudes,  it  was  autumn  in  others.  If  it 
was  winter  in  some,  it  was  summer  in  others.  Even  if  it  was  winter, 
tlie  forest  was  alive  ;  if  spring,  full  of  sap  and  growth  ;  if  summer,  in 
its  fullest  growth;  if  autumn,  it  would  have  on  a  full  ci"op  of  foliage. 
So  it  would  generally  be  swallowed  up  in  a  green  state  and  would 
heat.  While  in  that  heated  state  the.  leaves,  twigs  and  all  small 
pieces  would  be  consumed,  and  the  large  pieces  charred.  And  that 
of  itself  is  a  great  means  of  preventing  decomposition  ;  in  the  hands 
of  nature,  by  and  by,  it  would  become  as  it  is  found  to  be  today. 

All  the  writers  on  the  subject  say  those  lands  have  been  siibmerged 
))y  either  marine  or  fresh  water,  and  at  that  time  were  covered  with 
forest ;  and  where  not  with. a  large  forest  growth,  with  marsh  meadow 
growth;  and  give  it  as  their  judgment  that  those  conditions  pre- 
vailed before  the  formation  of  coal.  It  must  have  l)een  at  the  time 
of  the  flood. 

If  we  were  to  suppose  that  those  great  mountain  ranges  in  all  con- 
tinents lay  a  long  while  under  tlie  sea  and  then  were  forced  up  by 
some  tremendous  upheaval  out  of  the  sea,  they  would  have  then  no 
forest.  So  one  of  the  important  conditions  for  coal  making  would  be 
lacking.  And  if  they  have  stood  all  the  time  as  they  are  now,  there 
never  has  been  any  occurrence  that  could  have  carried  the  sea  over 
them,  but  the  Hood.  The  writers  say  after  the  forest  was  on  these 
districts  the  inundations  came  over  them  which  prepared  for  making 
the  coal.  The  supposed  glacial  period  could  not  Iiave  done  it  through 
all  the  zones  of  earth  where  the  coal  is  found,  ^^'e  have  shown  how 
the  universal  deluge  would  cause  the  glacial  period  spok(  n  of;  and 
how  it  would  lav  the  foundation   for  the   coal    measures.     And    1    do 


82.  Tin:  SToin  of  ojieatiox. 

not  lielieve  tluTe  hiiH  bt^en  nny  oilier  event  that  could  have  pro<luee<l 
the  ^-Uu'ial  period,  and  have  laid  the  foundation  for  the  coal  to  be 
produced  in  the  earth  except  the  Hood.  And,  also,  in  what  they  call 
the  coal  period,  they  speak  of  beds  of  peijbles  and  deposits  of  sand. 
These,  usually,  are  the  works  of  freshets;  tlie  flood  was  the  greatest 
of  all  freshets. 

Much  nuiterial  lias  Ijeen  deposited  in  the  earth  since  that  time 
which  nature  could  manufacture  into  coal.  Tlie  lime-stone  countries 
furnish  the  bulk  of  the  world's  supply,  and  in  those  countries  are 
often  lime  sinks  and  land  slides,  with  all  that  is  on  the  surface,  bur- 
ied more  or  less  deep.  Sometimes  by  an  earthquake,  or  by  the  under- 
mining influences  of  the  water,  large  belts  along  shores  often  slough 
off  into  the  water,  with  all  that  was  on  the  surface  at  the  time,  which 
may  l>e  converted  into  coal.  And  other,  and  all  inflences,  are  at 
work  to  ]jroduce  what  Providence  wants  produced,  who  has  from 
the  lirst  furnished  the  world  with  fuel  enough. 

While  His  judgment  was  severe  on  the  antediluvians,  it  was  good 
on  the  distant  ages  of  the  postdiluvian  world.  (Rom.  11:22).  It  is 
likp  the  Savior's  judgment  on  the  one  that  failed  to  improve  !iis  tal- 
ent ;  it  was  taken  from  him  and  given  to  one  that  had  doubled  his, 
and  the  neglecter  punished  besides.  (Matt.  25:28-80).  ^^>  would  do 
well  as  the  apostle  there  teaches  us  to  be  humble,  rather  than  boast 
of  our  superior  advantages,  lest  His  judgment  wax  severe  against  us. 


CHAPTER  X. 


If  no  remains  of  flowering  plants  are  found  imbedded  in  the  coal 
it  is  no  i^roof  that  none  existed  at  that  time.  In  every  forest  the 
large  trees  bloom  ;  and  besides  them  are  many  small  ones  that  bloom. 
As  Hhe  dogwood,  adding  great  beauty  to  the  scene;  and  the  crab 
apple  tree,  filling  the  air  with  a  very  delicious  fragrance;  and  the 
laurel,  which  is  verj^  pretty;  and  the  honeysuckle,  and  flowering 
vines,  wild  roses  and  violets.  More  southward  than  this  the  grand 
magnolia.  Added  to  this,  in  Florida  the  surface  under,  the  forest 
trees  is  covered  with  wild  flowers  of  great  variety  and  of  much  beauty. 

And  all  the  splendid  flowers  of  the  trojDics  girdle  and  adorn  the 
earth;  have  done  so  as  far  back  as  man's  knowledge  extends.  And 
man's  judgment  knows  it  could  not  have  been  otherwise  since  time 
began  ;  even  as  they  are  all  in  nature  wild  today.  All  of  those  we 
cultivate  were  once  free  in  nataire's  wild.     As  a  poet  says, 

"Full  many  a  rose  is  born. 
To  bloom  and  blush  unseen. 
And  spend  it's  fi-agrance 
On  the  desert  waste  alone." 

The  same  has  been  true,  no  doubt,  in  the  floral  history  of  every 
year  since  the  first.  And  doubtless  they  have  Nourished  in  their 
respective  latitudes  together  from  the  least  to  the  most  splendid  of 
them  ever  since  earth's  first  spring  time.  And  millions  of  them 
evei'y  year  since  time  began,  tio  doubt,  were  reduced  to  ashes,  and 
the  ashes  are  earth  today. 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATIOX.  Hi]. 

WhciH^  live  !ill  1  lu'  flowers  of  those  l'(n'ests  iiiul  ninrsh  meadows  and 
splendid  jangles  these  writers  speak  of,  before,  and  in  tiie  coal  period, 
in  the  very  distinct h  where  the  coal  is  found,  besides  tlie  few  inferior 
ones  as  tliey  say  are  incased  in  ihc  coal  formation?  As  ■'victor's 
wreaths  and  monarch's  gems"  tliey  "blend  in  common  dnst." 

Supjiose  we  should  say  none  of  the  human  race  lived  in  ancient 
limes  except  those  wliose  names  are  preserved  in  histoiy.  It  would 
be  as  consistent  as  to  claim  that  there  were  no  flowers  anywhere  on 
earth  in  those  ages  besides  those  whose  remains  are  preserved  in  this 
ciial.  Those  that  are  found  are  no  proof  tliat  there  were  not  present 
many  others  of  different  species  not  embraced  in  the  coal  as  it  was 
forming. 

The  coal  area  of  the  L'nited  States  east  of  the  Rocky  ]\rountains  is 
reported  to  be  125,000  square  miles.  But  what  is  that  to  the  2,000,- 
000  sqiiare  miles  of  surface,  exclusive  of  water  surface,  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  where  no  coal  is  found?  That  is  a  fair  comparison 
for  the  wliole  earth.  Let  a  man  compare  the  area  embraced  in  the 
coal  beds  with  that  which  is  not,  and  he  will  see  that  it  is  only  a 
small  part  of  the  earth  when  compared  with  the  whole.  How  incon- 
sistent, then,  to  deny  existence  to  any  animal  or  vegetable  because 
its  remains  are  not  preserved  in  the  coal  until  this  day.  Xo  court  or 
jury  would  consider  that  any  evidence.  It  does  not  prove  a  thing  as 
to  the  great  bulk  of  the  rest  that  went  the  common  way  of  all.  As  a 
preacher  once  said  in  regard  to  his  own  death,  "I  ask  for  no  exemp- 
tion, I  prefer  to  go  as  my  Master  went."  So  the  contemporaries  of 
tlie  preserved  passed  through  the  general  way  open  to  all;  while 
these  writers  look  after  the  exceptions.  And  that  while  those  that 
went  to  dust  had  all  the  other  part  of  the  earth  to  live  or  die  in  ;  and 
besides,  the  coal  may  have  embraced  only  a  small  per  cent,  of  those 
living  or  dead  at  that  time  and  place,  while  it  was  forming. 

If  the  slow  process  was  on  all,  the  living  ones  would  get  out  of  the 
way.  And  the  flowers  and  all  small  plants  would  mostly  decompose 
before  a  slow  process  would  embrace  them  for  preservation.  Xo  won- 
der, therefore,  that  so  few  of  the  great  bulk  of  every  generation  are 
preserved  in  organ'ic  form.  It  is  far  more  likely  that  those  that  are 
preserved  were  caught  quickly,  as  by  an  earthquake  or  volcano,  or 
XoaJi's  flood.  And  it  is  apparent  that  it  would  take  a  stupendous 
miracle  to  have  caught  up  some  of  every  species  in  each  generation 
from  the  first. 

For  vegetable  matter  to  be  converted  into  coal,  would  not  be  a  (>rc- 
tive  act;  it  is  reasonable»that  it  would  require  considerable  time  and 
therefore  have  less  power  to  embrace  fossils.  We  could  expect  to  find 
only  comparatively  few,  and  they  were  taken,  no  doubt,  in  a  dead 
stale,  where,  in  the  providence  of  (rod,  they  rested.  Their  idea  of  the 
sea  coming  over  the  coal- districts  corresponds  pretty  well  with  the 
Bil:)le.  The  fii'st  is  the  impress  of  the  water  at  Creation,  we'll  say  in 
tlie  composition.  The  retiring  of  the  sea  from  those  districts  thai 
they  speak  of,  was  the  hour  the  Lord  se))arated  between  water  and 
dry  land  on  the  surface  of  the  earth.  The  long  interval  they  say  the 
sea  was  off  of  these  districts,  was  from  ci'i-at  ion  of  the  sons  unto  the 
Hood,  when  the  sea  came  back  over  them  all,  while  covered  with   pri- 


84.  THE  STOKY  OF  CREATION. 

meval  forest.  No  power  less  than  tliat  flood  could  have  brought  the 
sea  over  those  mountains,  where  the  eoal  regions  lie  in  all  continents. 
They  can't  make  it  out  without  Noah  and  Ills  Hood.  The  other  inun- 
dations tliey  speak  of,  the  overflows  by  the  melting  of  the  Arctic  ice, 
moved  out  of  its  place  by  the  flood — continuing  long  after  the  flood 
had  gone — causing  drifts  on  high  table  hinds  and  mountains,  where 
were  no  regular  streams  of  water.  I  believe  Moses  and  Noah  could 
Iielp  tlu'in  much,  if  tliey  would  allow  their  evidence  in  court. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Now  geoh)gists  try  to  set-  up  a  different  theory- for  the  origin  of  the 
earth,  and  of  all  natural  things  in  it,  than  what  is  here  set  fortli  as 
the  true.  Let  us  look  at  it.  They  teach  there  was  a  very  long  period 
in  this  world's  unwritten,  unknown  history  that  was  destitute  of  all 
animal  or  vegetable  life ;  but  what  reason  do  they  give  for  making 
such  a  statement?  That  there  were  only  certain  kinds  of  rocks  then 
existing,  and  that  they  are  those  in  which  no  I'emains  of  animals 
UL'  vegetables,  are  found,  neither  of  which  can  be  proved.  And  if 
they  could  it  would  not  make  out  their  case. 

We  haye  shown  there  was  a  time  when  there  were  no  animals  in 
existence — before  the  fifth  day  of  Creation  ;  nor  plants  of  any  kind 
before  the  third  day  of  Creation;  when,  therefore,  there  was  nothing 
that  nature  could  get  anywhere,  to  preserve.  Not  a  curio  did  she 
then  save  us.  We  know  nothing  of  its  date  except  what  is  stated  in 
the  Bible  by  the  authority  of  the  Creator  Himself.  And  there  is  no 
other  way  for  any  man  to  know  it.  That  is  a  positive  fact.  As  A,  H. 
Stephens  said,  "There  is  nothing  on  earth,  in  the  earth,  or  anywhere 
about  the  earth,  that  will  hurt  you  if  you  will  only  do  your  duty." 
So  we  know  there  is  nothing  on  the  earth,  in  the  earth,  or  anywliere 
about  the  earth,  especially  outside  of  the  Bible,  or  other  hand-writing 
of  mankind,  somewhere  found,  by  which  a  man  can  calculate  liow 
long  the  earth  has  existed.  I  had  as  soon  believe  him  who  claims 
that  he  can  tell  when  .she  will  end;  and  we  know  he  can't  do  that. 

Now  they  have  it  hot  enough  to  burn  up  everything  on  earth  for 
that  indefinitely  long  while.  Now  cold  enough  to  freeze  everything 
on  her  to  death.  Both  of  these  conditions  could  not  prevail  at  once; 
unless  it  was  like  Dante's  fictitious  Inferno,  first  hot  then  cold,  for 
the  greater  aggravation  of  those  who  have  to  stay  there.  Nor  is  it 
probable  that  two  so  great  extremes  should  follow  each  other.  There 
is  no  probability  that  all  the  earth  was  ever  so  hot,  nor  so  cold,  as 
they  state.  Both  of  those  statements  are  evidently  only  fanciful  as 
to  all  of  the  earth  at  any  time.  It  is  not  all  safe  to  accept  of  that 
for  truth  which  is  not  proven.  "" 

If  some  of  her  rocks  are  of  igneous  origin,  it  is  nothing  against 
what  is  here  set  forth.  Neither  is  it  if  any  are  of  aquatic  oi'igin. 
Both  of  these  influences  and  results  have  prevailed,  no  doubt,  from 
the  earliest  existence  of  the  earth.  And  since  man  sinned,  other 
influences  have  prevailed  also.  So  there  are  grounds  in  the  Bible  to 
account  for  all  the  ways  they  have  been  and  are  being  formed. 

Every  revolving  world  inay  have  been  hot  when  it  first  came   into 


THE  STORY  OF  OKEATION.  S.'). 

beino;,  for  uiiii;ht  we  know.  And  cnoiii,'!!  of  tliat  fire  and  of  tliat  lioat 
remains  in  every  one  of  tlieni  to  this  day  to  answer  all  of  His 
purposes. 

And  you  may  take  the  whole  story  of  the  fossils,  without  mtui's 
conclusions,  and  it  is  not  so  far  from  the  Bible.  For  instance,  Adam 
lived  980  years ;  perhaps,  more  men  were  quite  as  long  lived  as  he 
than  not.  So  for  a  thousand  years,  and  perhaps  much  more,  but  few" 
men  or  women  died.  So  was  it  in  all  probability  with  allot  the  larger 
animals.  In  the  first  millennium,  and  fa#more,  perhaps  there  would 
be  no  remains  that  could  be  naturally  preserved  of  these,  not  being 
in  the  range  of  the  necessary  conditictns  for  natural  preservation. 
And  as  in  man,  so,  perhaps,  in  all  the  species  of  the  larger  animals 
they  were  created  by  pairs;  that  being  enough  at  first  to  answer  all 
needful  purposes.  As  is  illustrated  by  His  after  method  of  saving  them 
in  the  ark  by  pairs  for  the  purpose  of  stocking  the  new  world  with 
the  different  species.  So  they  may  have  been  created,  and  as  man 
would  increase  the  more  slowly,  and  there  would  not  be  opportu- 
nities for  nature  to  get  any  of  their  relics  to  preserve.  J^or  is  there 
on  record  any  catastrophe  before  the  flood  to  swallow  up  any  of  tliem 
alive. 

They  speak  of  seashores  in  the  first  of  the  paleozoic  ages  swarming 
with  mollusks.  That  is  very  agreeable  with  the  Bible;  for  God  said, 
"Let  the  waters  bring  forth  abundantly  the  moving  creature,"  The 
language  implies  those  that  crawl.  The  creeping  things  and  flying- 
insects  that  live  about  the  w^ater,  of  these  nature  had  abundance  to 
start  with.  And  these,  the  first  of  the  animal  kingdom  created, 
were  w^eak  and  short  lived,  aud  w^ould  naturally  furnish  the  first  of 
remains  preserved  in  nature.  Scripture  and  geology  are  close 
together  here,  except  what  is  called  geological  time;  which  is  only  a 
supposition,  without  foundation  in  miture.  Neither  do  we  know  the 
precise  time  from  Bible  chronology;   that's  admitted. 

Then  in  the  finding  of  fossils,  in  their  language  we  pass  up  to  rep- 
tiles. Well,  they  were  created  on  the  same  day  as  were  those  men- 
tioned above,  out  of  the  water,  except  the  original  serpent,  which 
was  a  land  animal  created  on  the  sixth  day,  traveled  erect  and  could 
talk.  When  the  Lord  cursed  him,  He  took  away  his  power  of  speech, 
his  former  diet;  made  him  crawl  and  eat  dust,  (Is.  6r):25  and  Gen. 
5}:  14),  and  the  land  snakes  doubtless  came  from  him.  See  how  sin 
degraded_a  being!  The  reptile  race  are  short  lived;  so  they,  too, 
would  naturally  furnish  early  relics. 

Thence  ascend  to  the  birds.  In  the  Bible  they  come  next  to  the 
water  animals  in  the  divine  order  of  Creation  ;  created  on  the  fifth 
day.  And  those,  at  least,  that  live  on  or  about  the  water,  out  of  the 
waters.  And  along  with  these  it  is  said  relics  of  fish  are  found.  They, 
too,  were  created  in  or  out  of  the  water,  and  on  the  fifth  day.  Birds 
and  fish  are  short  lived.  So  all  of  these  would  die  earlier  than  the 
larger  animals  that  live  in  water,  and  especially  those  that  live  on 
the  dry  land,  and  would  naturally  be  preserved  before  any  of  the 
larger  animals,  which  are  better  prepared  to  resist  casualties,  and 
have  a  longer  tenure  on  life. 

The  first  of  the  animal  ('reation  were  tliose  peculiar  to  water,  and 


8(i.  THE  STOEY  OF  CREATION. 

tlie  waters  bnjuylit  forth  abundantly  those  inferior  creatures  after 
their  species.  (Gen.  1 :21).  The  Revised  Version  in  the  margin  says, 
"Swarm  wiili  swarms  of  living  creatures,"'  verse  20.  On  tlie  seas  are 
more  casualties  against  life  than  on  land;  here  would  be,  as  it  was, 
the  scene  of  more  abundant  life  of  weak,  short  life,  and  more  dangers 
to  encounter  ;  the  first  fields  to  give  evidence  of  that  conflict  between 
life  and  destruction.  Geologists  are  free  to  bear  witness  to  the  fact, 
for  here  they  find  the  first  output  of  nature's  mummies.  In  the 
fossil  business  they  do  not  j|et  away  from  the  seashores  until  their 
coal  age.  And  still  hug  around  for  much  of  their  time  those  shores, 
until  they  border  well-nigh  their  tertiary  .system.  Until  then  they 
were  on  the  lifth  day  of  Creation  ;  since  then  they  have  embraced 
those  which  were  created  on  the  sixth  day. 

But  I  believe  all  that  are  now  in  their  species  were  contemporary 
with  all  the  past  generations.  Some  geologists  bear  witness  of  it  to 
some  extent;  for  what  else  could  it  mean  when  are  found  in  their 
Devonian  age  just  as  perfect  fish  fossilized  as  was  ever  known?  And 
in  the  Silurian  age  the  wing  of  an  insect :  whereas,  they  do  not  gener- 
ally admit  there  were  any  insects  until  the  coal  age,  and  then  not  of 
the  highest  types.  A  wing  of  one  in  the  first  age,  as  they  teach  of 
organized  life,  would  show  that  such  a  creature  then  existed. 

Those  that  live  on  land  were  created  on  the  sixth  day  of  Creation. 
And  perhaps  only  a  male  and  a  female  of  each  species  of  the  larger 
ones  made,  as  was  the  human  species,  which  gives  unity  in  their 
every  species ;  as  He  afterward  saved  them  by  pairs  in  the  ark  and 
stocked  the  new  world  with  them  after  their  kinds,  and  has  forbidden 
in  His  providence  any  permanent  interference  with  this  unity  of 
species,  which  marks  them  to  this  day. 

Therefore,  their  remains,  if  preserved  at  all,  would  be  later  in 
accordance  with  their  tenure  of  life ;  and  fewer  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  the  original  ones  and  their  ratio  of  increase,  which  is  one 
a  year,  through  the  bearing  period  of  the  female,  as  in  the  horse  and 
some  others,  as  the  cow,  and  all  the  rest  •  are  nothing  in  increase 
when  compared  with  some  birds,  fish,  reptiles  and  all  those  whicli 
furnished  the  first  remains. 

Other  men  and  myself  once  counted  forty-nine  young  snakes  borne  at 
once  by  the  female,  on  the  i)ank  of  a  creek.  They  all  leaped  into  her 
mouth;  they  killed  her  and  that  number  of  them  were  in  her.  Xow, 
with  all  these  facts  before  us,  we  could  not  expect  to  find  remains  of 
the  larger  ones  imtil  later  on  in  time.  And  of  man,  still  later, 
because  he  was  but  a  single  species  and  only  a  single  pair  in  that  one 
species;  and  increased  more  slowly ;  limited  to  a  certain  period  in 
the  life  of  the  female ;  the  statute  of  limitation  was  put  upon  the 
increase  of  the  race.  As  a  physician  once  told  me  in  regard  to  cer- 
tain ceremonial  laws,  it  was,  he  thought,  to  prevent  too  great  an 
increase  in  the  family.  (Deut.  12  ;4-5,  m^-.m,  Ez.  22  :1U  and  Lev.  18  :19.) 
So  this  was  done,  no  doubt,  and  for  the  best  results ;  and  a  mercy, 
too,  it  was. 

And  what  does  it  prove?  That  all  mankind  are  of  this  single  pair, 
and  (rod's  Creation,  and  His  constant  care. 

Josei^hus  says,  in  chronology  the  antediluvians   had   no  regard   to 


THE  S^IX)RY  OF  ('.REATIOX.  87. 

the  (ioaths,  but  counted  from  ll)<>  hirtlis  of  the  illustrious  oues;  but 
in  this  law  of  evidence  from  fossils  death  controls.  Death  was  by 
nature  latest  in  man  than  in  any  other  organized  being;  hence  later 
before  any  of  his  kind  were  preserved  in  anyway  after  death  against- 
decomposition.  Next  to  him,  those  animals  that  bear  once  a  year, 
and  only  one  at  a  time.  The  nearest  allied  to  man  by  nature,  and 
the  more  under  his  care ;  so  they  lived  and  were  protected  with  their 
owners,  and  last  of  all  animals  would  have  the  misfortune  to  be 
swallowed  up  alive  by  casualties.  Man  was  first  in  God's  esteem, 
iirst  in  His  protection  against  all  these  casualties;  and  next  to  him 
his  most  iiseful  animals  were  protected  by  providence  for  man's  sake. 
fJut  all  dwelt  on  the  earth  from  the  first  generation  of  anything  that 
liveth;  all  at  the  same  time  as  today.  The  absence  of  man,  or  of  any 
other,  from  the  fossils  in  any  age  of  the  world,  is  no  proof  that  that 
species  did  not  then  exist.  A  fossil  proves  nothing  against  the  gen- 
eral fact  in  natui'e,  as  now,  that  all  species  have  lived  together  in 
every  generation  of  earth,  died  and  went  to  dust. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that,  if  you  leave  out  the  conchisions  these 
writers  try  to  fabricate  on  the  fossils,  and  take  the  facts  themselves, 
everthing  of  the  kind  excavation  finds,  and  their  testimony  does  not 
contradict  the  Bible;  but  as  far  as  it  goes,  or  can  go,  it  strengthen.s 
the  history  of  Creation  and  of  primitive  times  as  given  in  tlie  Scrip- 
tures. So  in  nature,  as  in  the  Bible,  the  story  is  plainly  written. 
That,  is  the  bottom  truth  on  this  whole  subject  of  fossils. 

I  believe  the  flood  was  two  or  three  centuries  later  than  our  author- 
ized versionniakes  it  to  be;  according  to  some  Christian  writers, 
more  than  that.  It  is  said  the  Samaritan  Pentateuch  makes  its 
chronology  eight  or  ten  centuries  more  than  ours.  So  tlie  flood  may 
have  been  considerably  later  than  our  authorized  text  makes  it  appear. 
And  it  all  agrees  well  with  geologists,  their  dates  excepted. 

It  is  said  less  and  less  signs  of  organized  life  are  found  as  we 
descend  to  the  azoic  rocks,  and  more  and  more  as  we  rise  above  them, 
until  they  become  quite  prolific.  That  agrees  well  with  what  might 
reasonably  be  expected  from  the  history  in  the  Book  of  (lenesis.  Up 
to  the  carl)oniferous  age  it  is  said  no  forms  of  life  are  found  preserved 
higher  in  organization  than  reptiles,  though  said  to  be  a  preparation  for 
the  if^ptilian  age.  But  from  the  succeeding — the  Permian — it  is  said 
there  was  a  transition  from  the  pahezoic  (ancient)  life  to  a  new  phase 
of  geological  history.  This  change  and  the  peculiarities  before  and 
after,  I  believe,  were  caused  by  the  flood.  In  the  cretaceous  age 
remains  of  mollusks  and  reptiles  are  yet  found,  which  is  said  to  end 
with  that  pel-iod.  Above  this  their  mamnuilian  age  sets  in.  As  they 
advance  upwards,  a  few  mammalians  are  found;  but  more  and  more, 
until  they  are  found  in  the  tertiary  part  of  it,  togethei-  with  the 
remains  of  mankind  closely  connected  with  their  diluvlan  and  glacial 
periods,  at  the  beginning  of  what  they  call  the  recent.  .Ml  tliese  rich 
deposits  of  INIammalians,  even  the  largest  ever  known,  with  remains 
of  human  beings,  no  rloubt,  were  made  by  the  flood,  not  of  geology, 
but  of  the  Bible.  We  have  shown  that  according  to  the  Bil)le,  they 
coultl  not  be  expected  to  be  preserved  ))efor?  the  Hood.  We  have 
shown  how  the  diluvian  nnd  glacial  periods  of  geologists  could  be  pro- 


88.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

duced  by  fliiit  flood;  and  posterity  will  approve  our  sayings  I  Ps.  49: 
];}.  That  flood  and  its  sediments  deposited  them  more  or  less  deep, 
as  cireumstanees  controlled.  Becavise  some  are  buried  deeper  than 
others,  it  does  not  prove  that  they  were  before  others  in  order  of  time. 
The  flood  in  its  sediments  would  naturally  cover  some  of  them  very 
deeply  and  others  very  shallow,  as  the  coal  is  found  to  be,  some  very 
deep,  some  quite  shallow.  But  it  is  no  proof  in  itself  that  one  bed 
is  older  than  another. 

After  the  flood  men  increased  comparatively  slow  for  a  few  centu- 
ries, to  the  rest  of  animate  creation  ;  had  also  long  lives  for  about 
five  hundred  years.  Noah  lived  850  years  after  the  flood,  his  whole 
life  950.  Twenty  years  more  than  Adam's  Shem  was  600  years  old 
bei'oi-e  he  died;  living  at  least  480  years  after  the  deluge.  And  per- 
haps the  lives  of  the  larger  animals  were  proportionately  long.  So 
for  these  first  centuries  after  the  flood  the  remains  of  mankind  and 
those  animals  described  would  necessarily  be  few  in  number  that 
could  be  preserved.  If,  therefore,  in  the  beginning  of  the  formations 
following,  fewer  of  these  are  found  than  before  or  afterward,  it  would 
be  only  what  would  be  I'easonably  concluded  for  the  first  millennium 
after  tJie  flood,  according  to  sacred  history  in  the  book  of  Genesis. 

I  believe  from  nature  in  her  regular  course,  as  well  as  from  the 
Bible  statement  of  Creation  and  its  teaching  on  providence,  that  the 
whole  animal  kingdom,  whether  incased  in  stone  or  resting  in  dust, 
or  ashes,  or  now  living,  have  all  in  their  several  species  existed  in  the 
world  contemporaneously  through  all  their  generations,  from  Crea- 
tion till  now,  as  has  man  in  his  species.  By  the  unalterable  laws  of 
nature,  when  not  interfered  with,  everything  is  kept  in  its  own  spe- 
cies. I  raised  a  crop  of  improved  tomatoes.  The  volunteer  jDlants  I 
let  stand,  cultivated  them,  and  never  saw  a  fuller  crop  of  the  small- 
est variety  of  little  round  ones.  So  it  is  with  everything  in  nature 
that  man  improves.  When  he  lets  it  alone,  it  invariably  goes  back 
to  its  original,  wild  nature. 

When  the  Lord  put  Adam  and  Eve  in  the  garden  of  delights,  He 
gave  them  the  privilege  to  make  any  improvement  in  it  they  saw  fit. 
And  of  course,  it  is  a  hajDpy  entertainment  to  experiment  in  nature 
and  make  improvements,  but  when  our  hands  are  off  she  will  regulate 
herself.  This  genei-ation  is  a  type  of  all  the  past  of  earth  in  every- 
thing, and  proves  better  than  anything  else  what  the  past  has  been, 
and  also  what  the  future  shall  be.  As  is  the  present,  so  was  the  past 
in  nature's  course,  and  so  will  the  future  be. 

That  they  do  not  find  remains  of  all  the  species  that  are  now  living 
in  the  world  is  not  so  remarkable  by  half,  as  that  they  do  find  any  at 
all.  If  none  at  all  had  been  preserved,  it  would  not  have  been 
remarkable.  So  the  absence  of  soine  that  are  now  living  is  not  remark- 
able in  any  age.  For  the  common  rule  in  nature,  and  the  decree  of 
the  Judge  of  all,  is  for  all  to  die  and  return  to  dust  again.  What  are 
preserved  are  exceptions,  and  we  should  draw  our  conclusions,  as  in 
logic,  from  the  general,  rather  than  from  the  exceptions. 

^^'hen  we  say  fossils  are  exceptions  to  nature's  general  course,  we 
state  a  fact  that  every  informed  person  knows  to  be  true.  For  why 
are  they  sent  to  national  museums  and  kept  as  curios?   And  why  are 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATION.  89. 

they  exaiiiiiU'd  by  visitors  with  intt'rest?  It  is  because  they  are 
uncommon.  And  the  more  perfect  the  remains  the  inore  interesting 
are  they.     Many  of  them  are  only  imperfect  skekMons. 

Why  do  they  not  take  dust  of  animals?  Because  it  is  in  nature's 
ordinary  course — the  common.  Therefore,  it  provokes  no  curiosity. 
They  could  get  a  plenty  of  human  ashes.  But  a  human  bone  excites 
a  great  interest  in  these  writers  if  found  preserved.  And  why?  It 
is  out  of  nature's  ordinary  course.  Their  own  examples  show  that 
they  so  recognize  all  fossils. 

I  have  seen  the  petrified  renuiins  of  an  Indian.  But  I  did  not 
suppose  there  were  no  dogs  and  cats  and  horses  in  that  country  at 
the  time  that  Indian  lived  there,  because  they  did  not  bring  along 
their  petrified  remains,  too. 

It  would  be  just  as  reasonable  though  as  the  theory  these  men  try 
to  set  up  on  fossils.  And  why  did  they  bring  the  Indian's  remains? 
Because  it  was  a  curiosity.  Why  did  they  not  bring  along  some  dust 
of  horses  and  cattle?  Because  it's  common.  But  tlie  life-like  form 
of  the  Indian's  remains  was  out  of  nature's  regular  course  with  a 
corpse;  and  people  paid  to  see  it.     The  dust  is  her  common  course. 

If  a  mammoth  is  found  in  a  frozen  state  it  is  no  proof  that  he  has 
existed  longer  than  the  sixth  day  of  Creation.  The  fact  that  he  was 
found  frozen  is  proof,  I  think,  that  that  act  of  freezing  took  jilace 
since  Adam  sinned.  For  I  believe  it  is  evident  from  the  Bible  that 
no  part  of  the  earth  was  cold  enough  then  to  form  ice  anywhere. 
Certainly  the  fusionist  would  not  think  so.  Before  sin  entered  no 
shelter  nor  clothing  was  needed  for  man's  protection  or  comfort.  Of 
course  then  it  could  not  be  cold  enough  at  that  time  or  before,  for 
animals  to  freeze  anywhere  on  earth.  The  conditions  that  prevail 
now  at  the  poles,  I  do  not  think  existed  before  man  sinned. 

They  could  not  set  in  at  all  before  the  sun  was  made  the  centre  of 
light  and  heat  on  the  foxirth  day.  Before  that  time  the  light  and  the 
heat  could  not  be  otherwise  than  uniform  all  over  the  earth  and  day 
and  night  equal  all  around  the  world  and  from  pole  to  pole.  And  what- 
ever amoiint  of  snow  and  ice  might  accumulate  in  the  polar  regioi\s 
would  be  broken  up  by  the  equatorial  waters  at  the  time  of  the  flood, 
wliich  would  move  it  out,  scatter  it  over  the  earth,  thus  adding  to 
the  great  ne!?s  of  that  catastrophe. 

The  ice  that  now  is  at  the  poles  must  have  been  formed  since.  If 
there  ever. was  a  time  "when  the  ice  of  the  north  came  down  upon 
the  temperate  zone"  it  must  have  been  then.  Not  before,  nor  since. 
Nothing  less  than  that  could  have  done  it,  or  that  something  would 
move  it  out  now.  The  glacial  drifts  are,  as  many  other  facts  in 
nature,  I  think,  traces  of  the  universal  flood. 

Some  have  supposed  that  it  was  limited  to  tliat  part  of  the  earth 
occupied  by  man.  But  as  to  that  we  have  no  means  of  knowing  how- 
far  man  had  spread  over  the  earth ;  nor  which  was  covered  with 
water  and  which  was  dry  land  before.  The  deluge,  no  doubt,  pro- 
duced many  changes  in  natural  geography.  It  is  best,  I  think,  to 
take  what  the  Bible  says  about  it,  and  what  it  says  about  everything 
it  teaches. 


90.  THE  STORY  OF  OREATIOjS^. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

]Maxy  of  the  names  by  which  the  ages,  periods  or  systems  are  des- 
ignated in  geology  are  only  local,  as  the  Cambrit\n,  Silurian,  Devo- 
nian, Permian  and  Jurassic.  Taken  from  the  names  of  the  localities 
where  those  rocks  were  first  noticed  and  examined.  In  application, 
therefore,  they  cannot  represent  the  whole  earth  in  those  times  they 
stand  for,  or  at  any  other  time.  It  does  not  follow  that  the  whole 
earth  is  constructed  everywliere  else  as  it  is  in  those  places.  And 
that  it  embraces  the  same  kind  of  things  everywhere  as  are  found  in 
these  places.  Therefore,  they  are  no  criteria  of  what  are  in  the 
whole  earth. 

If  so,  we  could  dig  anywhere  into  the  earth  and  find  coal.  Because 
it  is  in  some  parts  of  the  earth,  it  would  be  everywhere,  therefore,  in 
the  earth.  And  we  could  find  iron  anywhere  in  the  earth,  because 
the  result  would  be  if  it  is  in  one  part,  it  is  in  all.  And  so  might  we 
find  silver  and  gold  anywhere;  for  from  the  fact  it  is  in  one  place  it 
would  be  in  all.  Well-diggers  often  go  thirty-five  or  forty  feet  with- 
out finding  any  rock  to  hinder  them ;  again  they  find  rock,  now  soft, 
they  can  cut  through ;  now  hard,  they  have  to  jjlast.  That  shows 
the  crust  of  the  earth  is  not  formed  every  where, alike.  So  in  boring 
artesian  wells  to  very  great  depths;  they  find  different  conditions  in 
different  places ;  furnishing  proof  that  the  crust  of  the  earth  is  not 
the  same  everywhere.  And  how  few  of  those  workmen  ever  find  a 
fossil.  In  boring  for  water  they  often  go  1,200  or  1,800  feet  deep, 
and  for  oil  4,000,  5,000  feet,  and  the  deepest  I  read  of  was  5,740  feet. 

You  may  sample  a  bale  of  cotton  and  usually  you  will  get  a  true 
judgment  of  its  quality  throughout.  But  you  cannot  so  sample  the 
whole  bulk  of  the  earth.  If  you  could,  then  there  would  be  coal 
everywhere,  or  nowhere;  for  it  is  in  some  places  and  not  in  others. 
Or  gold  everywhere,  according  to  the  sample  in  some  places ;  or 
nowhere,  according  to  the  sample  in  other  places.  The  truth  is, 
Infinite  Wisdom  has  put  these  things  not  everywhere,  but  only  in 
certain  parts  of  the  earth  as  He  saw  fit  for  the  good  of  all;  and 
ailapted  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  dry  land  to  agricultural 
purposes. 

There  are  peculiar  formations  of  the  earth  where  mica  is  found. 
That  is  understood  practicallj^  by  those  who  dig  for  it.  So  is  there 
for  evei'y  metal;  but  they  do  not  furnish  criteria  for  judging  of  the 
whole  earth.  If  those  who  follow  mining  should  suppose  so  they 
would  be  very  much  mistaken.  Just  so  it  is  in  regard  to  all  those 
local  names  in  geology.  They  do  not  prove  what  was  the  state  of 
the  whole  earth  in  those  ages  they  are  made  to  represent.  How 
small  a  part  of  the  earth  do  these  localities  represent  to  that  which 
they  cannot  represent. 

Now  they  state  it  for  truth,  that  no  other  species  of  organized 
beings,  either  animal  or  vegetable,  lived  anywhere  on  earth  during 
the  periods  of  time  they  use  these  local  names  to  represent,  than 
those  whose  remains  are  found  preserved  in  those  rocks-.  It  is  no 
proof  that  no  other  species  lived  then  anywhere  else  on  earth,  nor 
even  where  they  are  found.     There  were  doubtless  many  other  species 


THE  STORY  OF  0R]':ATT0N.  01. 

of  luiiinals  nnd  plants  in  tb.e  very  places  whore  tiiese  remains  are 
found  that  were  not  preserved,  that  died  and  went  to  dust,  as  we 
proved  in  regard  to  the  flowers  of  the  forest  in  their  csirbiniferous  age. 

If  these  sy.«!tems  of  rocks  formed  slowly,  or  otherwise,  they  do  not 
know  when  it  was  done.  Xeither  how  long  it  took  them  to  form. 
Xor  has  the  earth  ever  had  any  such  periods  of  time  as  they  claim 
for  her  by  these  local  names.  J^either  is  there  any  reason  at  all  to 
suppose  that  every  species  of  animal  or  plant  had  a  representative 
caught  in  these  rocks  as  they  formed  and  held  in  its  organized  form 
bj"  them. 

If  it  was  a  live  animal  it  could  get  out  of  the  way  l^efore  the  strata 
would  form.  If  it  was  dead  ■  it  would  decompose  before  the  strata 
could  form,  which,  they  say,  formed  very  slowly.  So  it  must  have  been 
caught  alive  bj^  some  sudden  catastrophe;  or  it  may  have  died  there 
and  the  peculiar  preserving  powers  of  nature  in  that  place  held  it  as 
it  is  found.  It  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  those  strata  to 
embrace  some  of  every  species  of  plants  and  animals  then,  or  at  any 
time,  that  were  living  everywhere  on  earth.  The  fossils,  therefore, 
can  furnish  no  grounds  for  the  opinions  they  base  upon  them.  In 
every  place  wdiere  fossils  are  found  are  chemical  properties  which 
prevent  their  decomposition.  Now  we  know^  that  these  properties 
are  not  genez'al  throughout  the  earth,  but  only  in  certain  localities; 
therefore,  it  is  obvious  that  they  could  not  embrace  all  the  species  of 
animals  and  of  plants  on  earth  at  any  given  time. 

For  instance,  there  are  waters  iii  the  United  States  that  will  pet- 
rify trees  and  animals ;  but  how  small  a  part  of  the  waters  of  the 
United  States  do  they  represent?  Shall  we  conclude  no  other  species 
of  animals  or  plants  lived  at  the  time  those  lived,  that  are  petrified, 
elsewhere  in  tlie  whole  United  States  or  on  the  whole  earth,  because 
their  remains  are  not  petrified  in  these  waters?  Quite  as  reasonable 
would  it  be  as  for  them  to  claim  that  no  other  species  of  plants  or 
animals  and  not  a  human  being  lived  on  earth  unless  it  is  represented 
in  the  fossils  found  in  those  rocks.  When  no  one  except  the  Creator 
could  sift  the  dust  and  find  their  remains — the  remains  of  the  great 
majority  of  every  generation. 

The  localities  where  there  are  sufficient  chemical  properties  to  pre- 
serve any  organisms,  are  usually  uninviting  for  man's  settlement  is 
one  reason  no  human  remains  are  found  in  what  they  call  certain 
ages  of  the  earth.  And  of  our  dojnestic  animals,  too;  for  they  were 
about  his  habitations.  And  in  those  times  the  inviting  lands  were 
plentiful  and  mankind  comparatively  few,  as  we  have  showm  in  the 
first  ages  after  Creation ;  and  again  after  the  flood  they  chose*  the 
most  desirable  for  cultivation  and  for  pasturage.  As  we  know  men 
do  now  in  a  newly  opened  country;  and  as  the  first  white  settlers 
did  all  over  this  country.  Many  lands  they  refused  have  since  been 
found  lo  be  valuable  for  men's  homes  and  their  pursuits  of  happiness. 

Man  and  his  domestic  animals  in  all  those  early  times  were  nestled 
away  from  such  localities.  Living  in  the  most  favorable  parts  of  the 
earth  for  farming  and  for  pasturage,  having  but  little  disposition,  and 
no  need,  to  try  those  uninviting  parts  for  their  simj^le  pursuits.  In 
thoso   places   they  lived  happy   lives,   worshipping  Cod   as  He  had 


92.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

taught  them  to  do,  died,  and  were  buried  in  earth's  great  eonimon, 
where  tliere  are  not  cheniieal  properties  sufficient  to  hold  any  from 
the  inevitable  law  of  decomposition  ;  and  shall  shine  forth  in  the 
resurrection  of  the  just  in  a  better  state  than  geologists  ever  found  a 
relic.  Providence,  too,  led  them,  and  protected  them,  and  there  are 
sufficient  reasons  why  their  remains  are  not  found  alon'^  with  those 
inferior  creatures  written  about  in  the  ancient  life  of  the  earth. 

In  Florida  well-diggers  commonly  find  sea-shells  in  all  parts  of 
that  State.  The  people  there  have  thought  that  all  of  that  land, 
therefore,  has  been  redeemed  by  nature  and  providence  from  the  sea. 
which  may  be  very  true,  for  many  changes  of  the  kind  are  ever  going 
on.  And  when  the  geologi.st  comes  to  a  formation  a  farmer  would 
call  made  earth — a  secondai'y  formation  from  the  first — a  drift  depos- 
iting such  and  such  things,  animal  or  vegetable  remain.s — here  he 
finds  the  most  of  the  relics  he  writes  about.  All  sucii  deposits  are 
adjuncts  upon  nature,  formed  since  those  forms  of  life  were  created, 
which  they  hold  in  a  state  of  preservation. 

And  not  only  the  relics  they  hold  are  exceptions  to  nature's  com- 
mon course,  but  they  themselves  are,  being  made  by  the  flood  or 
somp  other  powerful  action  of  water,  or  some  sudden  commotion  in 
that  part  of  the  earth.  It  is  surprising  how  deep  a  single  freshet 
will  cover  an  object — as  logs  or  brush — in  bottom  lands  on  rivers  or 
creeks,  and  every  succeeding  one  covers  it  deeper  and  deeper,  and 
firmer  and  firmer  becomes  the  earth  above  it  as  time  continues. 
Sometimes  land-slides  bury  up  a  good  deal  of  the  surface  with  every- 
thing on  it,  more^less  deep,  and  as  time  passes  those  things  held  by 
it  will  be  covered  the  more  deeply.  Once,  as  I  was  traveling  in  upper 
(xeorgia,  a  man  hailed  me  as  I  was  about  to  cross  a  creek,  and  said  : 
"We  have  found  a  live  terrapin  several  feet  below  the  top  of  the 
ground  imbedded  in  the  rocks  and  pebbles  in  this  ditch  we  are  dig- 
ging, and  I  don't  see  how  he  could  have  got  there  unless  he  was 
buried  there  by  some  overflow  of  the  creek,  and  the  fllling  up  of  some 
old  channel."'  He  had,  it  seems,  been  there  a  long  time,  but  I  don't 
take  him  as  a  witness  of  tlie  flood.     But  he  is  a  good,  scientific  case. 

It  was  a  casualty  that  buried  him,  and  an  exception  in  nature  that 
preserved  him — alive  at  that.  No  man  could  tell  when  he  was  cov- 
ered, nor  where  he  lived  before,  nor  how  old  he  was.  Shall  we  believe 
there  were  no  other  species  of  animals  then  living  contemporary  with 
him,  because  they  w'ere  not  found  with  him  thus  preserved?  In  all 
that  has  been  found,  there  is  no  better  proof  than  that,  that  this 
world  was  occupied,  as  we  might  geologically  say,  in  that  age,  by 
nothi^ig  but  terrapins,  (xeologically,  that  was  the  terrapin  age;  for 
nature  didn't  take  care  of  any  other  organism  there  but  that  terrapin. 

One  of  their  periods  they  call  the  age  of  reptiles.  Every  age  has 
been  an  age  of  reptiles,  it  seems,  since  the  first  trouble  in  Adam's 
family,  or  there  would  be  none  in  the  world  now.  If  their  theory  was 
true,  they  could  beat  St.  Patrick  banishing  snakes;  not  only  ridding 
their  own  country  of  them,  but  all  the  earth.  However,  they  say 
that  age  is  past;  yet  the  snakes  are  here;  we  see  some  every  year. 
Not  long  since,  our  government  sent  a  geolojjist  to  the  Philippines  to 
study  the  geology  of  that  countrj',  and  report  for  the  public  benefit. 


THE  STORY  OF  CRKATIOX.  1);}. 

He  said,  while  uut  there,  lie  sailed  Uiruiigh  wluil  lie  called  a  sea  ol' 
snakes;  that  they  were  so  iniirierous  he  could  form  no  approxim:;te 
idea  of  their  number  to  the  square  mile.  H  would  seem  from  that, 
that  the  age  of  reptiles  has  not  yet  ended.  They  were  not  the  dead 
and  fossilized  snakes  of  the  geologists,  but  live  ones,  and  dangerous. 
at  that. 

In  those  places  where  mica  is  found,  are  hard  strata  of  rock  asso- 
ciated with  it,  which  are  leaders  to  men  from  the  surface — or  near  it, 
to  guide  them  to  the  treasure  below,  where  it  is  found  in  a  state  suf- 
ficient for  commerce.  Now  if  the  strata  of  the  whole  earth  are  like 
they  are  in  Siluria,  then  they  are  every whei'e  like  they  are  in  the 
mica  mines,  and  y^n  may  find  mica  anywhere  in  sufficient  quantity 
and  size  for  commerce  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  we  know  that  it  is  a  very 
limited  portion  of  our  country  where  it  will  pay  to  mine  for  it. 

The  same  is  true  of  iroVx  and  of  every  metal.  And  the  same  is  true 
in  regard  to  fossils.  Thej^  are  found  where  are  chemical  properties 
sufficient  to  pi-eserve  them  in  their  organic  forms.  And  as  gold  and 
every  metal  has  its  peculiarities  of  environments,  so  have  fossils;  and 
are  no  more  proof  as  to  what  was,  or  was  not,  in  the  whole  earth  at 
any  time  those  living  things  moved  on  the  earth,  than  that  a  man  can 
find  gold  anywhere  because  it  is  somewhere. 

Now,  tiiey  speak  of  a  coal  age,  say  it  ceased  and  a  different  age  set 
in.  It  is  not  correct  to  say  the  coal  age,  or  any  other  age.  of  the 
earth  ended  and  another  age  followed  it.  Such  statements  are  with- 
out facts  in  nature  to  support  them.  As  long  as  material  for  coal 
making  is  brought  in  contact  with  the  conditions  for  coal  making, 
coal  will  be  made.  It  may  be  that  Providence  is  having  nature  to 
make  coal  now  for  future  generations.  They  are  not  authorized  to 
say  that  either  providence  or  nature  has  ceased  making  coal. 

Just  so  in  regard  to  gold,  silver  and  all  other  metals.  As  He  gave 
orders  to  man  and  to  animals  of  all  kinds,  under  His  blessings,  to 
multiply  and  fill  the  earth  with  their  progenies  after  their  kinds,  so 
by  analogy,  we  may  suopose  the  vegetable  kingdom  was  under  like 
orders;  and,  perhaps  the  mineral  kingdom  likewise.  It  is  a  reason- 
able supposition  that  some  rock,  coal,  and  some  -of  all  mineral  sub- 
stances, and  some  of  all  metals,  were  made  in  Creation,  and  have 
increased  more  or  less  rapidly  through  all  time;  as  man  and  animals 
and  plants,  only  after  their  species. 

There  is  no  proof  anywhere  to  be  found  that  nature  has  different 
times  for  makiJig  different  things.  Every  farmer  knows  it  is  not 
true;  for  he  sees  her  making  wheat,  oats,  corn,  cotton,  weeds  and 
grass  at  the  same  time.  No,  she  can  and  does  do  all  at  once.  She 
never  stops  making  these  in  order  to  make  rocks.  She  carries  on  all 
her  works  together  in  one  grand  course;  grander  far  tlian  man  ever 
conceived  of.  All  the  theories  of  the  philosophers  are  left  far  behind 
by  her;  she  pays  no  attention  to  them;  but  moves  on  in  that  beau- 
tiful and  perfect  course  in  wliich  her  ('real or  started  her  at  the 
beg-inninir. 


94.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

CHAPTKK  XIII. 

Ix  thf  Go.spfl  wo  read  tliat  tlie  roek.s  were  rent  when  Clirist  tri- 
umphed over  his  enemies  in  hell  and  earth.  (Matt.  27:50-54.  As  tlie 
graves  were  opened,  their  victims  released — after  Hi.s  re.surr^-ction — 
so  in  all  probability  hidden  nature  somewhere,  by  means  of  that 
earthquake  and  those  rent  rocks,  may  have  caught  .some  ther  living, 
sacrifices  as  memorials  in  herself  of  that  notable  event  and  preserved 
them,  as  many  other  silent  witnesses. 

I  knew  a  good  man,  who,  whenever  he  saw  any  of  tlio.se  rents  in 
large  rocks,  would  speak  of  the  crucifixion.  Dante  teaches  that 
rocks  were  rent  in  hell  at  that  great  event.  (Canto  21  rllu.)  St. 
Paul  teaches  that  the  death  of  Christ  on  the  cross  had  efte(t  even 
upon  things  under  the  earth — understood  to  mean  the  def.tlis  of 
perdition.  Doubtless  it  made  them  see  the  more  clearly  the  jiistness 
of  their  doom,  and  in  tluit  sense,  become  the  more  reconciled  to  the 
sentence  of  their  condemnation.  (Col.  1  :2(l.)  All  things,  in  some 
way,  includes  them.  (Phil.  2  :8-IU,  Rev.  5:8-18.)  That  in  Chn.st  it 
was  commuted  to  a  life,  immortal  sentence,  for  so  is  the  .second 
death,  rather  than  annihilation  of  being.  As  in  this  life,  any  sane 
person  will  choose  to  live  in  much  suffering  rather  than  die ;  ^o  in 
that  state  it  is  a  lesser  evil  to  exist  and  suffer,  than  to  be  blotted  out 
of  existence.  Neither  did  St.  Paul  choose  to  die,  Phil.  1:22-28,  nor 
Christ,  Luke  22  :42,  but  both  submitted  to  the  will  of  God.  The  love 
of  existence  so  inheres  in  our  common  nature,  that  even  a  devil  and 
a  lost  soul  can  thank  (^hrist  for  cf)ntinued  being. 

Some  of  th(^  breaks  and  splits  in  earth's  strata  were  no  doubt  made 
then.  Perhaps  the  testimony  of  the  rocks  to  that  event  are  in  all 
the  eartli  today.  So  it  is  just  for  us  to  expect  to  find  rended  rocks, 
and,  perhaps,  liolding  victims,  too.  But  I  do  not  claim  to  know  the 
dates  of  any  of  them.    Neither  do  I  think  any  other  man  knows  them. 

In  geology  it  is  said,  however,  that  the  periods  and  the  epochs 
vary  in  different  countries.  Then  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the 
strata,  if  it  could  be  known,  would  have  no  bearing  as  to  fixing  any 
date  in  the  earth's, history.  And  much  rather,  could  not  have. any 
influence  on  the  question  as  to  how  long  the  earth  has  existed. 

The  question  of  how  long  the  earth  has  stood  does  not  come  within 
the  realm  of  any  science.  It  is  a  question  that  science  has  no  means 
of  answering.  Nor  has  philosophy.  How  much  rather,  then,  shall 
all  hypotheses  fail  to  answer  it. 

Yet,  some  write  as  if  they  knew  all  about  natui-e.  But  there  are 
many  things  done  in  nature,  almost  daily,  in  common  things,  that 
they  do  not  understand.  For  instance,  a  man  lays  away  his  buggy 
harness;  when  he  wishes  to  use  it  again,  it  is  not  only  tangled, 
but  the  lines  are  often  tied  into  knots.  Now  they  do  not  know  bow 
those  lines  could  tie  themselves  into  knots.  Yet  I've  often  found 
mine  so.  Again,  he  sits  down  to  sew  on  a  button;  presently  his 
thread  is  tied  into' knots.  Now  these  writers  don't  know  how  that 
thread  could  tie  knots  in  itself.  They  may  say  it  is  natural  for 
twisted  thread  to  kitik.  But  that  don't  show  how  it  can  tie  itself 
into  pretty  knf)ls,  as  if  done  by  hands  of  skill  ;   or,  if  otherwise,  how 


TlIK  STORY  OF  CREATIOX.  Or>. 

the;<e  knois  liappened  to  Im'  fornu'd  in  it  even  by  the  twist. 

A  horse  may  be  ever  so  wol)  i^roonied.  )nit  let  him  loose  and  as  soon 
as  he  sees  a  bed  of  sand  or  fresh  plowed  land,  he  will  lie  down  and 
wallow.  They  don't  know  why  the  horse  wanted  dirl  on,  or  in.  hi.'^ 
clean  coat  of  hair.  They  may  say  it  is  his  nature  1o  wallow,  lint 
they  don't  know  why  he  will  want  to  wallow  soon  after  he  is  well 
curried  and  brushed.  So  with  many  thin^'-s  that  are  written;  they 
are  hardly  worthy  to  be  called  opinions. 

I  do  not  blame  them  for  not  knowinu;.  I  lihime  tiiem  for  statins- 
things  for  facts  that  no  man  on  earth  can  know.  If  they  wf)uld  leave 
out  all  the  liypotheses  it  would  be  better  for  them  before  (lod.  and 
for  the  science,  too,  in  the  judgment  of  men.  It  will  never  be  a 
science  until  they  do.  The  teaching  of  the  pulpit  must  agree  with 
the  Bil)le.  Science  and  philosophy  must  agree  with  nature  or  they 
have  no  authority  at  all.  Nature  is  the  true  standard  for  art,  and 
the  law  of  science.  No  true  science  contradicts  nature,  (reology 
will  have  to  reduce  herself  within  the  limits  of  nature  before  she  will 
be  a  true  science. 

In  speaking  of  human  progress  upon  the  earth,  we  may  correctly 
say,  so  I  think,  the  antediluvian  age,  the  post-diluvian  age,  the 
Christian  era,  and  so  on,  but  the  earth  herself  has  never  had  hut  one 
age.  That  has  been  from  her  beginning  till  now;  and  will  cnnliuLie 
unto  her  end.  All  of  her  time  is  embraced  in  the  one  period  uf  Jui- 
existence. 

Of  old  the  heathen  worshipjied  stocks  and  stones  straight  out. 
Now,  some  in  civilized  countries  do  it  indirectly.  As  my  grand- 
father used  to  say  of  a  crooked  thing,  "whipyjing  the  devil  around 
the  stump."  They  will  go  to  a  rock  and  ask,  "How  old  are  you? 
Can't  you  tell  us  how  old  this  earth  Is?"  How  much  better  to  go  to  the 
living  \\'ord  of  the  living  God,  to  the  Creator's  own  account — the 
only  oracle  that  can  approximate  a  correct  aiul  comfortable  answer. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


Ir  the  sheep  did  not  get  his  species  at  CU-eation,  on  the  sixth  day, 
nobody  on  earth  can  tell  when  or  where  he  got  it.  Doubtless  he  was 
the  first  used  in  sacrifice  for  man's  benefit.  So  with  the  cow.  No 
doubt  but  she  was  the  first  to  furnish  milk  for  Adam's  family.  And 
the  same  is  true  in  regard  to  the  species  of  every  living  thing  in  this 
world.     That  was  the  origiTi  of  species. 

The  women  improve  their  poultry  by  crossing  breeds;  but  that 
never  changes  a  species.  They  cross  chickens  with  chickens;  not 
chickens  with  ducks,  or  any  other  fowl.  But  only  in  the  species  of 
each.  If  the  species  is  crossed  over,  it  is  said  by  naturalists  when 
left  to  themselves,  they  will  after  a  few  generations  go  back  to  their 
own  species  on  both  sides.     Thus  nature  regulates  herself. 

So  with  the  larger  animals,  ('rossing  them  does  not  change  the 
species.  Neither  will  any  kind  of  cultivation  change  the  species. 
The  cultivation  in  mankind,  from  a  savage  state  to  civili/ed  condi- 
tions, does  not  interfere  with  racial  lines.  All  the  racial  peculiarities 
still  exist.     So  do  all  the  special   peculiarities  of  animals   antl    fowls 


V)G.  THE  STORY  OF  CEEATION. 

remain  under  domestic  iinprovemeiit.  The  theory  of  evolutionary 
ehange  of  species  is  unsupported  ;  it  exists  nowhere  in  nature.  Botli 
the  origin  and  the  hiw  of  species  came  from  the  Almighty,  and  was 
fixed  in  that  day  when  He  created  everything  after  its  kind.  If  any 
have  perished  it  was  agreeal^le  to  His  will.  If  any  new  ones  have 
come  into  existence,  it  was  His  Creation  since  the  first.  But  nothing- 
has  ever  changed  its  species ;  no  man  has  any  experience  of  it ;  none 
have  observation  of  it;   no  history  nor  tradition  proves  it. 

Xatural  selection  and  survival  of  the  fittest  are  only  ideal.  There 
are  no  facty  to  support  them.  You  may  observe  a  flock  of  geese;  the 
old  gander  will  try  to  whip  off  the  young  gander,  but  he  will  not  hold 
his  ground  long.  If  he  could  he  is  no  better  than  the  young  one. 
Just  so  in  a  gang  of  chickens.  The  old  rooster  will  try  to  keep  off 
the  young  one;  but  he  will  not  hold  his  field  long.  So  it  is  witli  all 
our  domestic  fowls;  and  so  it  is  with  them  in  the  wild  state. 

The  same  is  true  in  a  flock  of  sheep,  goats,  too;  cattle,  hogs  and 
hoi'ses  ;  both  domestic  and  wild.  And  any  farmer  knows  that  any  of 
the  females  will  mate  with  any  of  tlie  males. 

There  is  nothing  in  them  to  found  such  a  principle  upon  ;  nor  is 
there  any  such  practice  among  them.  As  to  the  males  whipping  one 
another,  they  are  about  an  equal  match,  so  for  one  to  succeed  to 
much  extent  is  uncommon.  "And  that  depends  more  upon  their 
courage  and  activity  than  upon  size  and  strength.  I  have  seen  a, 
comparatively  small  dog  whip  a  large  one;  and  have  seen  a  small 
horse  whip  a  large  one ;  and  a  small  bull  out  hook  a  large  one.  If  it 
be  a  fact  that  any  large  animals  have  lost  existence,  perhaps,  it  was 
because  they  were  too  clumsy  or  lacked  courage  to  sustain  them- 
selves in  the  conflict  in  the  animal  kingdom. 

Every  creature  has  its  own  weapon  of  defence.  The  small  ones 
succeed  as  well  as  any.  The  large  ones  that  cannot  resist  poison, 
will  give  a  plenty  of  room  to  those  that  have  a  poisonous  weapon  ; 
and  to  all  the  stinging  ones,  too.  Bees  sometimes  sting  a  horse  or 
mule  to  death.  Tliere  is  a  small  blood-sucking  animal  in  some 
quarters  of  tlie  earth  tliat  mounts  or  leaps  from  a  tree  upon  a  large 
animal  and  Axes  itself  on  the  back  or  slioulders  of  the  animal  where 
he  can't  brush  it  off.  The  animal  will  jump,  str.mp  and  run  to  get 
rid  of  it,  but  finally  succumbs  to  it.s  little  foe  through  exhaustion. 

Among  men,  the  large  ones  cannot  do  any  better  fighting  than 
small  ones.  Tlie  little  Japs  were  too  much  for  the  big  Cliinese. 
Napoleon  was  considered  the  best  fighter  of  his  times;  but  was  so 
small  of  stature  that  his  soldiers  called  him  "the  little  corporal." 
St.  Paul  was  the  bravest  preacher  of  his  day,  yet  in  stature  was  the 
little  Benjaminite. 

One  reason  why  the  old  giants  were  killed  out  is,  perhaps,  because 
tliey  could  not  succeed  against  their  common  size  enemies.  The 
Bible  tells  of  many  of  them  being  killed  in  wars. 

The  ancients  believed  that  after  tlie  flood  the  pliysi('a]  stature  of 
men  diminislied.  If  so,  then  by  analogy  witli  other  divine  interposi- 
tions upon  mankind,  it  would  proportionately  affect  beasts  also.  So 
tlie  same  species,  under  tliat  law  would  be  smaller  tlian  formerly.  If 
there  is  anytliing  in  the  survival  of  tlie  fittest,  it  would    ber  atlier  in 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  '.»7. 

favor  of  a  smaller   pliysieal  stature  in  inaiikind.    for  the   permanent  : 

size,  and  a  proportionate  smaller  size  in    beasts,  for    y-reater    utility,  } 

but  no  t'liange  in  species.  ', 

Of  course  any  trader  or  raiser   can   improve   his  animals,  hut   that  ; 

never  changes  a  species.     We  can  improve  the  liuman  family,  and  it  (j 

is  agreeable  to  the  will  of  God   for  us  to  do  so,  but  it  makes  no  j 

change  in  the  human   species.     We  see  among  people   in   a  highly  i 

civilized    countrj^    as    great    difference    in    their    refinement    as    we  •' 
do  in  the  degree  of  knowledge  among  them.     In  the  same  i^rofession 

some  are  more  highly  developed  than  others.     So  in  every  craft  and  ; 
art  followed  by  mankind.     The  same  is  true  among  Christians.     It  is 

His  will  that  we  all  make  the  best  use  we  can  of  native  genius,  edu-  '; 

cation  and  of  grace;  as  He  gives  to  each   for  purposes  of  His  own  '. 
glory  in  mankind.     But  the   evolutionary  theory  gains   nothing  by 

any  of  these  things.     Agassiz  does    not   say   evolution,  but   higher  ' 

creations  from  separate  slips  and   distinct  human   species.     If  you  ■ 

say  it  is  in  order  of  the  racial  divisions  of  mankind,  it  agrees  neither  \ 

with  the  Bible  nor  ordinary  human  history.     As  far  back  as  we  have  ] 

any  intelligence   outside    of   the    Bible,  from   written    history,   pen  ^ 

descriptions  of  men  and  women,  from  mummies,  sculpture,  painting  , 
and  drawing,  we  see  all  along  the  same  general  contour  for  men  and 

women  that  we  see  before  our  eyes  today.     The  same  divisions  of  the  ' 

race  dwelling  on  the  earth  in  all  ages,  since  the  division  of  the  one  ] 
race,  (Gen.  11:1-9),  known  by  any  means  to  us,  have   prevailed  as 

they  do  now.     This  could  not  have  been  done  by  evolution.     No  set  ' 

of  apes  could  ever  have  done  it ;  nor  could  nature  have  done  it  by  * 

apes.     The  presumption  from  what  we  learn,  outside  the  Bible  on-  I 

the  subject,  agrees  with  what  we  gather  from  the  Bible  on  it.  i 

The  improvement  goes  on   in   each  division   of   the   race  without  ' 

])ringing  the  lowest  up  to  the  highest ;   and  that  without  ever  cross-  ^ 

ing  a  single  racial  line.     The   higher  divisions  of  the  race  are  as  far  ^ 

different  from  the  lower  in   their  general  contour  of  physique  and  ] 
mentality  as  before.     The  improvements  do  not  demark  the  lines  of 
divisions  of  the  race  as  far  back  as  known  to  us   from   aji.y  earliest  ^jC*^ 
information  of  mankind  since  the  divisions  began.     As  in  the  human 

family,  the  only  improvement  we  can  make  is  within  racial  lines;  so  ■ 

in  the  animals  and  vegetables,  the   only  real   improvement  we  can  \ 

make  is  within  their  special  lines.     They  do  not  and  cannot  improve  ' 
themselves,  nor  do  they  ever  change  to  a  different  species. 

But  some  writers  say   new  species  have   been   introduced.     And  "\ 

why?     Because  there  were  no  remains  of  the  domestic  animals  found  i 

preserved  with  the  inferior  creatures,  until  in  what  they  claim  to  be  i 

later  deposits.     We  have  shown  how  that  is  agreeable  to  nature  as  i 

well  as  to  the  Bible ;   and  because  none  of  man's  remains  are  found  j 

preserved  until  still  later,  as  tiiey  claim,  he  did  not   exist  until   still  ^j 

later  than  his  domestic  animals.     We  have  shown,  too,  hovv'  that  is  | 

agreeable  to  nature  as  well  as  to  the  Bible,  and  that  the  fossils  fur-  | 

nish    no   proof   for   the    arrival  of   any  new   species,    and    no   proof  ■ 

that  they  have  not  all  been  in  the   world  since  the  first  were — since  ' 

the  fifth  or  sixth  day  of  C-reation.  i 

Some  have  argued  that  animals  may  (dumge  themselv(>s  by  exercis-  j 


us.  THE  STOFvY  OF  CREATION. 

iii,!4-  llicir  imisclcs.  T*.  soim;  c.x'iciii  they  may.  You  can  train  tliem 
to  oat  more  and  more,  or  you  can  use  thein  to  do  on  less,  and  be 
])etter  for  it.  •  80  we  can,  by  use,  enkirj;'e  our  natural  powers.  For 
instance,  at  the  beginning  of  a  watermelon  season,  a  m.an  will  have 
l)t)wer  to  eat  only  a  small  quantity,  but  by  eating  more  every  day.  in 
a  few  weeks  lie  will  ))e  able  to  eat  all  of  the  ripe  part  of  the  half  of  an 
average  size  one  witliout  inconvenince  to  himself. 

So  can  we  enlarge  our  mental  faculties  and  moi-ai  powers,  too. 
We  may  resist  temptation  and  grow  stronger,  or  yield  and  become 
weaker,  and  by  cultivating  moral  goodness  our  spiritual  features  will 
improve.  "As  in  water  face  answers  to  face,  so  the  heart  of  man  to 
UKMi."  (Prov.  27:19).  In  the  expression  of  the  eye,  as  a  poet  says, 
•'Tlu!  heart  speaks  most  when  the  lips  move  not;  and  the  eyes  whis- 
per a  gentle  good  bye." 

Lamarck  suggested  that  animals  might  change  their  species  in 
several  generations,  using  their  organs  to  gratify  their  arising  and 
iiicreasing  wants,  but  there  is  not,  an  exan.iple  of  it  yet  found.  He 
suggested  the  giralTe,  as  he  had  the  longest  neck  of  any  to  his  size; 
iiccused  him  of  stretching  to  reach  higher,  but  tliore  is  no  probability 
that  it  did  not  go  back  to  its  natural  length  every  time,  as  does  the 
turkey  gobbler's,  and  the  turtle's,  too.  If  there  is  any  creature  tliat 
would  nud<e  its  neck  any  longer  than  it  is,  by  nature,  I  think  it 
would  l)e  a  cow,  for  when  she  gets  hold  of  a  peach  tree  it  seems  she  will 
never  let  it  go  unt  il  she  reaches  the  top  l)ud  ;  but  when  she  gets  the  last 
one  slie  itan  reach,  her  neck  goes  back  the  same  length  it  was  before. 
I  know  one  myself,  I  thitdc,  can  beat  any  giraffe  stretching  her  neck, 
and  all  of  her  calves  have  necks  of  only  ordinary  lengths.  I  never 
have  known  the  very  worst  of  them  to  make  their  necks  any  longer 
by  stretching  tliem  to  get  forbiddtui  things.  It  seems  that  if  any- 
thing could  make  its  neck  longer  than  it  naturally  is,  it  would  be  a 
certain  class  of  human  beings  who  stretch  their  necks  peering  into 
things  other  folks  don't  wish  them  to  see.  The  philosophers  needn't 
go  to  Africa  for  examnles,  we  can  furnish  enough  nearer  home. 

1  never  saw  a  creature  appear  more  innocent  tJian  the  girali'e,  nor 
better  contented.  There  is  no  deceit  in  him,  either;  my  opinion  is 
he  never  tried,  nor  desired,  nor  ever  had  any  want  for  any  power  he 
hasn't  got.  Verily,  it  must  be  a  slander  on  him.  I  do  not  think  any 
creature  on  earth  ever  rebelled  against  its  Creation,  unless  it  was  some 
human  being.  And  how?  By  refusing  to  fill  the  natural  functions 
of  human  life  and  of  religion. 

There  was  a  four-toed  animal  found  jM-eserved  in  the  tertiary  rocks. 
The  evolutionists  want  to  claim  him  as  the  progenitor  of  the  horse; 
if  they  are  in  earnest,  I  think  they  are  mistaken.  I  do  not  think  it 
was  a  horse;  I  l)elieve  the  horse  has  been  in  the  world  in  his  perfect 
state  ever  since  the  sixth  day  of  Creation.  The  first  mention  of  the 
horse  in  history  is  in  (lenesis  J-9  :10,  by  the  patriarch  Jacob.  It  shows 
that  that  animal  was  familiarly  known  at  that  time — was  in  common 
use.  They  wei'e  common  in  the  Egyptian  army  when  the  children  of 
Israel  left  Egypt.  (Ex.  14  :9.)  The  Hebrev.'s  were  forbidden  to  eat  them , 
because  tliey  did  not  part  the  hoof,  but  hadjwund  hoofs  as  ours  have 
today.      If  they  have  not  chan;-ed  since  theiT^  it  is  a  strong  evidence 


(v 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATTOX.  'Ml 

1iia1  thoy  liiivo  always  heen  as  tliey  az'c  now,  wliicli,  doubtless,  is  the 
Iriilli.  There  is  no  evidence  that  Adam's  horses  were  in  any  way 
diUcrcnt  from  ours;  if  thej'  were,  it  must  have  ))een  in  size  and 
strenj^th.  Providence  has  provided  him  as  the  helper  of  mankind  in 
all  afj;es  since  Adam  and  Eve  were  expelled  from  the  (xarden  of  Kden. 
Xo  doubt  he  was  the  first  to  submit  to  man's  authority — to  yield  his 
stren<rth  for  man's  use — and  that  by  the  will  of  Him  who  put  him  in 
subjection  to  man.  Doubtless,  he  was  one  of  the  last  to  go  into  a 
wild  state,  and  not  then,  perhaps,  until  many  men  had  li'one  into  a 
wild  and  savao;e  state. 

We  may  imjDrove  our  fowls  and  all  of  our  domestic  animals.  Inil 
material,  essential  nature  never  improves;  she  is  always  in  herself 
perfect.  \\'hen  Christ  said  on  the  cross,  "It  is  finished,"  redemption 
per  se  was  perfect;  nothing  has  been  added  since.  The  mass  offered 
for  the  quick  and  the  dead  does  not  touch  it.  And  when  the  last 
chapter  of  Revelation  was  closed.  He  forbid  any  addition  to  it  or  sub- 
traction from  it.  It  was  perfect ;  has  so  stood  luito  this  day;  shall 
so  stand  forever;  it  shall  not  change.  Just  so,  and  by  analogy,  too. 
^^'hen  at  the  lieginning  of  the  seventh  day.  He  finished  His  work  of 
Creation,  nature  per  se  was  perfect.  Xothing  has  since  been  added  to 
lier,  nor  anything  taken  from  her;  she  gets  neither  better  nor  worse. 
She  was  perfected  ;  has  ever  so  stood,  (Gen.  2  :1,  Ex.  20  : 1 1 . 

So  true  has  she  ever  been  to  herself  and  to  all  of  her  laws,  she  has 
severely  reproved  those  who  have  imposed  upon  her.  As  I  have  heard 
it  said,  mules  and  mulattoes  are  not  God's  work,  but  man's.  More 
truly  it  might  be  said  of  those  monsters  begotten  between  mankind 
and  i)easts,  which  thing  He  forbids  in  His  written  v/ord.  All  of  these 
unnatural,  abominable  practices  forbidden  in  the  Bible,  and  in  our 
common  law.  were  done  by  the  heathen.  He  says  so  in  giving  those 
laws  against  them.  There  ai-e  antecedents  that  lead  up  to  human 
legislation;  and  the  Lord  Himself  gives  the  antecedents  that  led  up 
to  this  Divine  enactment  against  those  crimes,  (Lev.  18  :22-;5()  and 
2{):1;M().) 

The  Almighty  bore  witness  against  the  Canaanites;  and  doubtless 
th.e  lower  savage  tribes  were  w^orse  than  they.  It  may  be  that  those 
hideous  looking  creatures  partly  in  man's  form,  and  more  in  the  form 
of  beasts,  are  from  that  source.  But  for  one  reason,  it  would  be 
plausible.  Whiles  do  not  form  a  sub-species  between  hor.ses  and  asses. 
In  a  few  inslances,  however,  it  is  .said,  mules  have  been  known  to 
generate.  Whether  there  could  be  a  sub-species  established  between 
man  and  any  beast,  I  do  not  know,  but  it  is  certain  that  nature  will 
shame  them  with  an  offspring;  she  has  done  it.  I  don't  think, 
though,  that  the  Lord  is  displeased  with  men  for  producing  mules. 
In  many  places  they  have  been  more  useful  than  asses  or  horses; 
but  I  think  it  is  certain  that  He  didn't  want  any  juulattoes.  If  nat- 
ural instincts  had  been  obeyed,  there  would  have  been  neither. 
Nature  of  herself  would  never  a  mule  nor  mulatto  produce.  On  the 
horse  the  white  man  forced  the  one,  and  himself  down  to  the  otlier. 
And  the  yank  was  as  quickly  guilty  as  the  southron, 
•*For  in  this  their  nature  is  the  same. 
Whether  from  the  rim  or  "Hub"  thev  rainc. 


100.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATIOX. 

Tliey  knew  "it  was  a  sin  ;  and  a  shame," 
Yet  tliey  did  it  a,yain  and  again."' 

It  is  a  thin*,'  tliat  on<>-lit  never  to  have  been  done  ;  but  now  they  can 
only  repent  and  do  so  no  more.  It  is  hoped  that  all  the  g'uilty  will 
reform  and  come  up  to  that  liigh  plane  of  m;vnhood  where  the  Lord 
wants  Ihem  to  be.  To  the  innocent  He  says,  "Keep  thyself  pure,  (1 
Tim.  r):2'2,)  and  to  every  one,  "Do  thyself  no  harm,  (Acts  16:28.) 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Xow,  if  two  skulls  are  found,  one  well  developed  in  brain  power  and 
the  other  poorly  developed  in  brain  power,  why  should  we  suppose 
that  the  well  developed  is  the  son  of  the  poorly  developed  one?  Why 
not  reverse  it?  Or  why  should  we  suppose  that  men  came  from  apes, 
rather  than  that  apes  came  from  men?  The  latter  is  far  more  prob- 
able. It  is  much  more  reasonable  that  men  begat  the  apes  than  that 
the  apes  evolved  men.  The  specimens  found  are  from  savage  coun- 
tries, for  the  most  part,  especially  those  that  ai*e  not  clearly  human. 
Savage  countries  are  the  haunts  of  those  ugly  monsters  that  partake 
both  of  beastly  and  of  human  appearance;  and  they  inay  be  a  cross 
between  low  down  savages  arid  beasts. 

We  have  all  seen  many  craniums  of  idiots  in  civilized  countries; 
but  what  proof  is  in  that,  that  all  men  came  from  idiots,  and  the 
idiots  from  apes?  Tliat  is  wiiat  it  leads  to.  Any  man  knows  that 
the  skull  of  an  idiot  is  a  sample  of  low  development  of  brain  power. 
I  have  seen  Blind  Tom,  the  great  pianist;  his  head  indicates  low 
development  of  brain  power;  only  one  organ — music — well  devel- 
oped, next  to  that  imitation,  every  other  faculty  almost  wanting;  he 
is  a  case  of  low  development  of  brain  power,  but  he  is  human.  If 
liis  skull  should  be  found  years  hence,  it  w'ould  be  a  curiosity  if  they 
did  not  know  it,  and  it  would  puzzle  them  to  know  where  in  their 
scale  to  place  him.  Many  cases  of  low  human  development  can  be 
referred  to  in  civilized  countries  which  we  know  to  be  human,  and, 
of  course,  we  would  expect  more  of  them  by  far  in  sjivage  countries. 
Some  apes  have  more  of  instinct  than  some  human  beings  have  of 
reason,  but,  human  is  human,  and  apes  are  only  apes. 

It  would  insult  the  negToes  to  tell  them  they  came  from  apes.  If 
the  apes  had  ever  evolved  any,  they  would  have  been  far  more  likely 
to  have  been  black.  It  would  be  a  hard  matter  to  get  a  white  man 
out  of  an  ape ;  or,  even  a  negro.  It  is  actually  too  foolish  to  talk 
about,  anyway,  I  once  heard  of  a  preacher — a  white  man — that  said 
he  didn't  believe  the  negroes  had  any  soul;  the  negroes  boycotted 
him,  he  left  the  country  on  account  of  it. 

Some  writers  are  much  interested  in  the  apes;  if  they  will  study 
these  Scriptures,  Exodus  22 :19,  Deuteronomy  27:21  and  Leviticxis 
18:2l)-80,  perhaps,  they  will  get  a  better  idea  of  their  origin.  I  do 
not  say  that  this  is  the  origin  of  apes,  but  it  is  far  more  probable 
than  that  of  the  evolutionists.  If  our  legislatures  had  not  believed 
it  had  been  done,  and  might  be  done,  they  would  not  have  passed 
laws  against  it. 


THK  STORY  OF  CREATION.  Kll. 

For  soiuo  reason  or  oilier,  tlie  Lord_i'orI)ids  it.  Jt  may  not  only  l)c 
because  it  is  a  sin  against  nature,  but  to  keep  each  in  its  own  species. 
In  His  providence,  as  well  as  in  His  written  legislature,  He  has  had 
an  eye  to  keeping  everything — animal,  plant  and  human — pure  after 
its  own  kind.  It  has  been  done,  except  where  man  has  interfered 
with  the  course  of  nature.  Then,  nature  to  herself  and  to  her  laws 
is  ever  so  true,  that  she  responds  to  wickedness  as  well  as  to  I'ight- 
eousness,  to  vice  as  well  as  to  virtue,  which  is  one  reason  why  the 
wicked  prosper.  Thus,  she  scares  or  shames  them  olf  from  theirevil 
practices.  INfany  a  guilty  one  has  been  shocked  and  exposed  by 
nature's  faithfulness  to  her  laws.  Perhifps,  after  awhile,  those  who 
are  a  law  unto  themselves,  Roman  iirlJ:,  being  rebuked  by  nature,, 
were  ashamed  of  themselves,  and  afraid,  too,  of  the  monsters  they 
had  been  the  means  of  bringing  into  fhe  world,  separated  from  them 
and  quit  the  vile  practice,  at  least,  for  the  most  part. 

To  impress  purity  of  blood  upon  mankind,  as  Avell  as  holiness  of 
heart  and  life,  the  Lord  also  made  laws — for  the  time  being — against 
mixing  other  things,  as  woolen  and  linen  cloth  in  the  same  garment.' 
Joseph's  coat  of  many  colors,  no  doubt,  was  all  of  wool.  Barley  and 
wheat  were  not  to  be  sown  together;  the  cow  and  the  ass  were  not  to 
be  yoked  together;  the  ox  and  the  horse  were  to  be  worked  separate. 
(Lev.  19:19,  Deut.  22:9-18  and  Lev.  2(5:16.) 

It  is  His  providence  working  through  Jiatural  instincts  and  loxo  of 
kind,  that  has  kept  the  living  creatures  within  their  own  species.  It 
is  fortunate  for  all  that  it  is  so.  The  purposes  of  Creation  nor  our 
continual  interest  could  not' be  served  if  they  were  to  mix. 

Suppose  all  our  domestic  animals  were  to  mix  up,  and  we  had  no 
real  horses,  no  real  cows,  no  real  sheep,  no  real  hogs,  and  so  on,  we 
would  be  in  a  fix.  Extend  the  thought  on  and  on  until  there  are  no 
real  men  and  women  in  the  world,  tlien  you  will  not  only  be  thank- 
ful that  nature  is  so  conservative,  but  that  the  L®rd  has  prevented 
the  mixing  of  species,  and,  too,  that  the  teaching  of  tlie  evolutionists 
is  not  true. 

Were  it  not  for  the  regulations  of  the  Creator  in  these  things,  we 
might  have  no  nice  horses,  no  good  milk  and  butter,  no  nice  wool, 
nothing  really  sw.eet,  sweet  and  bitter  mixed  together,  food  and  poi- 
son mixed  together;  we  would  be  afraid  to  eat  or  drink  anythiug,  for 
such  would  be  the  state  of  things  if  nature  was  not  constructed  as 
she  is.  All  would,  or  might  be,  mixed  pell  mell  together.  If  nature 
could,  or  did.  do  what  they  say  of  her,  then  there  would  be  no  , 
security  for  pure  species  in  anything;  no  pure  blood  for  any.  But 
thank  the  Lord  that  He  has  held  her  in  His  own  power  for  the  good 
of  us  alj— both  the  just  and  the  unjust.     Amen. 

There  is  scarcely  an  exception  where  anything  mixes  of  itself  with 
another  species  in  either  the  animal  or  vegetable  kingdom.  The 
course  of  nature  in  one  age  of  human  history  is,  therefore,  the  best 
criterion  of  what  she  has  been  in  ail  past^  time,  and  also,  of  what  she 
will  be  in  all  time  to  come.  What  she  has  not  done  in  our  age,  you 
may  be  well  assured  she  never  did  in  any  past  age,  and  will  never  do 
in  any  future  age.  Now  we  have  it. 
.  Who  ever  knew  a  snake  to  becoine  n  bird?     Or  an  anc  to  l)cconu'  a 


102.  THE  STORY  OF  ORf:ATION. 

mail?     Tliat  was  an  unhappy  (liought  of  Ihe  evolutionists. 

All  kinds  of  beasts  enter  life '  in  a  condition  sufficient  to  protect 
themselves  alike  against  heat  and  cold,  but  when  the  hum^an  species 
is  born  into  this  world,  it  is  without  any  protection  except  its 
mother.  But  evolution  has  no  mother.  Here  Providence  has  forever 
debarred  their  theoi-y.  Think  of  a  poor  little  infant  evolved  in  the 
woods,  or  field,  or  open  plain  ;  nobody  to  clothe  it,  to  feed  it,  to 
inirse  it,  to  doctor  it  nor  protect  it;  exposed  to  beasts  of  prey,  rep- 
tiles and  birds  of  prey.  If  it  was  a  hot  country  it  couldn't  stand  the 
heat;  if  it  was  a  cold  country  it  couldn't  stand  the  cold.  They  won't 
allow  Providence  to  help  it  hi  any  way,  won't  allow  it  to  be  adult  at 
the  start;  on  their  theory  it  must  grow,  and  that  very  slowly;  there- 
fore, it  would  have  to  be  helpless  a  long  while.  Verily,  it  would 
take  more  than  one  miracle  to'  keep  it  alive,  but  they  won't  allow 
any  miracles.  The  poor  little  thing  has  to  do  everything  for  itself. 
Evolution  has  no  neighbors;   it  is  altogether  dependent  upon  itself. 

When  Adam  and  Eve  were  created,  they  were  full  grown,  but  after 
they  sinned  they  could  not  protect  themselves  without  Providence; 
not  even  against  heat  and  cold,  to  say  nothing  of  biting  and  stinging 
insects,  poisonous  reptiles  and  evil  beasts.  They  were  in  a  civilized 
state,  too.  \^'ith  these  writers  evolution  was  before  civilization.  Cer- 
tainly it  would  be  in  a  dangerous  condition.  And  if  the  poor  fellow 
should  escape  all  the  dangers  and  the  uncertainties  of  existence  and 
live  to  be  grown,  where  would  he  find  a  wife  to  enable  him  to  per- 
petuate his  kind? 

When  the  Lord  made  man,  He  made  woman,  too.  And  all  spe.Mes 
of  animals  w^ere  created  in  sexes.  And  in  spite  of  all  wars  among 
men,  and  man's  interference  with  the  animals,  He  keeps  the  sexes 
of  all  kinds  sufficiently  equal  to  answer  all  His  purposes  in  every 
species.  If  Moses  made  out'  his  own  account  of  Oreation  he  beat 
these  late  doctors  a  long  ways. 

Experimental  science,  with  a  great  deal  of  labor,  may  imitate 
nature  to  .some  extent  in  some  things,  but  as  the  magicians  of  Egypt, 
permitted  of  the  Lord  to  imitate  the  works  of  Moses,  had  very  soon 
to  acknowledge  their  inability  to  follow  him,  so  these  in  their  tedious 
work  cannot  follow  her  very  far.  They  have  tried  hard  to  produce 
life.  If  they  could,  by  any  means,  it  would  not  amount  to  anything 
in  building  their  theory. 

Nature,  as  she  is  today,  everywhere  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  the 
.Bible;  the  evidence  is  all  around  us.  So  we  may  say  with  Moses, 
"\^'ho  shall  go  over  the  sea  to  bring  it  to  us?"  (Deut.  30:11-14.)  Or 
with  St.  Paul,  "Who  shall  bring  it  up  out  of  the  deep?  Or  who  shall 
fetch  it  down  from  heaven?"  (Rom.  10:6-8.)  And  again,  "I^oth  not 
nature  teach  you?"  (1  Cor.  11:14.)  Surely  we  don't  need  the  evo- 
lutionists to  teach  us ;  if  their  theory  was  true,  it  would  not  be 
worth  a  cent  anyway  to  know  it.  It  is  said  the  lessons  of  nature  are 
so  plain  that  they  who  believe  wrong',  and  do  wa-ong,  are  without 
excuse,  even  if  they  have  no  other  light.     (Rom.  1 :20.) 

Even  in  our  time  we  have  known  men  to  be  higher  developed  in 
brain  capacity  than  their  sons.  As  in  the  case  of  our  greatest  men. 
Their  sons  seldom,  if  ever,  reach  the  "Teatness  of  the  ohl  sire.     As  in 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  lO^J. 

Ilonry  Clay's  dynasty,  it  one  niii;lil  so  speak.  And  in  Daniel  Wel)- 
ster's;  and  even  (xeorj^-e  \A'asliin^'ton_is  not  exempt  from  this  inevi- 
table result  in  nature.  For  in  every  dynasty  nature  comes  to  her 
best,  then  drops  back;  by  and  by  she  is  at  her  best  a^ain,  but  it  is 
in  another  dynasty ;  not  in  the  same.  She  never  <>;ives  but  one  of 
her  best  in  any  dynasty.  There  was  but  one  Washin<,'ton,  but  one 
Julius  Caesar,  but  one  Shakspeare.  In  none  of  these  lines  has  she  ' 
ever  repeated  herself.  And  in  many  others,  we  mi;i-ht  mention 
where  nature  did  her  best,  then  dropped  back  to  her  ordinary  level. 
Slie  does  not  go  higher  and  higher,  but  drops  back,  and  comes  to  her 
best  again,  but  in  another  line.     It  is  her  true  course  in  everything. 

Critics  say  better  orations  than  Demosthenes'  have  never  been 
produced.  Nor  better  poetry  than  Homer's.  It  is  said  no  oeople 
ever  equaled  the  Egyptians  in  embalming  the  dead.  The  same  is 
true  of  men  in  their  physical  stature  and  general  contour.  Some- 
times there  is  in  a  certain  line  one  of  the  grandest  of  physiques,  but 
never  its  like  again  in  that  dynasty.  Recently  we  had  two  tine  spec- 
imens moving  among  us,  as  well. as  the  grand  intellects  they  were — 
Robert  Toombs  and  George  F.  Pierce. 

So  it  is  with  feminine  talent  and  beauty.  Many  examples  might 
be  mentioned  from  history,  both  ancient  and  modern,  and  any  one 
can  think  of  many  within  personal  observation  where  nature  in  a 
given  line  has  come  to  her  best  either  in  talent  or  beauty,  and  fell 
back  again  to  her  ordinary  status.  And  here  she  comes  again,  but  it 
is  in  another  dynasty  of  beauty  or  talent  she  now  gives  her  reward. 
Jenny  Lind  has  never  yet  beeir  equaled  in  fame  for  singing;  nor 
Florence  Nightingale  in  her  sphere  of  work;  neither  Joan  of  Arc  in 
her  field  of  action  ;  nor  Judith  in  her  arts  and  strategies  for  patriot- 
ism, and  in  prudence,  and  beauty,  and  winning  manners;  nor  Martha 
"\\'ashington  in  her  noble  spirit  for  her  country,  sacrificing  her  pri- 
vate interest  for  the  public  good,  and  her  pleasure  for  the  pleasure 
of  others. 

It  is  just  so  in  all  other  species.  She  can't  produce  finer  steeds 
than  she  has;  nor  more  beautiful  birds,  nor  prettier  tish  :  neither 
men  more  handsome  than  she  has,  nor  prettier  women  than  are  now 
and  have  been  before.  Neither  will  she  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  do 
better  than  she  has  already  done.  Long  ago,  it  is  said,  the  Israelites, 
with  their  crude  agricultural  imiDlements  and  crude  system  of  pre- 
paring land  for  cultivation  and  of  thre.shing  of  grain,  realized  from 
nature  herself  alone — unassisted  by  any  chemical  fertilizer — in  the 
plain  of  Genesaret,  lUO  bushels  to  one  sown;  and  in  the  plains  of 
Babylon,  it  is  said,  200  to  one  sown,  and  sometimes  HOO  bushels. 
I  know  of  no  l)etter  yield  now  than  that.  In  every  line  she  does  her 
best,  drops  back,  then  comes  to  her  best  again.  Tliat  has  been  her 
true  course  in  all  things  ever  since  her  Creation. 

There  is  no  regular  succession  from  lowest  to  highest  forms  of 
being  to  be  found  anywhere.  It  js  not  nature's  method.  Neither  is 
it  true  in  morality ;  there  never  has  been  any  uniform  development 
in  morality,  nor  in  Christian  experience,  nor  in  faith  and  (!hrisfian 
Avork.  Every  age  has  had  some  of  the  very  best  proflucts  of  grace, 
and  some  of  the  least.     The  F>ible  provides  for  all  tlie  extremes  in  all 


104.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

:ij>-es.  Tlie  faith  of  EnocJi,  of  Abraluiiu  and  of  Elijali,  I  doirt  think, 
has  been  oxcellod.  Neither  is  there  any  crossing  of  species  by 
nature  in  her  uninterrupted  course  in  all  thino-s,  and  for  any  of  them 
to  evolve  new  species  would  be  impossible.  No  power  Jess  than  th(^ 
Creator's  could  do  it,  and  we  have  no  information  that  he  ever 
evolved  any.  He  has  revealed  only  two  methods — Creation  and  gen- 
'eration.  It  is  certain  that  no  man  can.  show  a  case  of  evolution;  not 
a  single  example  is  known. 

'  When  Christ  died  upon  the  cross  His  redeeming  work  was  com- 
plete, but  His  saving  work  went  on  as  before;  its  foundation!  before 
He  died  being  the  redemption  that  was  to  be  by  the  sufi'ering  of 
death  by  the  Son  of  Man  for  man.  So,  His  providence  has  ever  been 
at  work  through  Plis  completed  Creation.  In  His  pi-ovidenco  He  has 
multiplied  in  the  various  kinds  He  created.  He  had  all  the  lines  in 
hand  from  Creation  He  wanted  to  operate,  and  had  no  need  to  work 
outside,  but  only  within  these  special  lines — in  all  the  departments 
of  nature ;  and  there  is  no  proof  that  any  of  them  are  better  or  worse 
than  the  first  of  them;  and  a  beautiful  system -lias  it  been  in  all  of 
its  parts  from  the  first.  He  has  never  needed  evolution  to  help  Him. 
That  mars,  if  it  were  true,  the  beauty  of  it  all. 

Redemption  began  with  man's  sin,  it  then  took  a  concrete  form. 
As  an  abstract  principle,  it  inhered  in  the  constitution  of  man,  as  he 
was  made  capable  of  being  redeemed.  It  is  not  correct  to  say 
redemption  existed  from  all  eternity.  If  so,  it  would  have  embraced 
all  the  angels.  But  the  fact  that  none  of.  them  that  fell  and  lost 
their  first  estate  are  redeemed  and  saved,  shows  that, it  did  not  exist 
before  or  at  the  time  they  sinned. 

There  was  then  no  redeeming  or  pardoning  power  in  existence.  It 
being  peculiar  to  man's  system,  abstractly  considered,  it  began  with 
his  Creation,  if  it  should  become  a  necessity  to  redeem  him,  and 
became  concrete  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  the  Deity  when  he  fell. 
Not,  therefore,  before  the  Creation  of  this  world,  but  so  close  to  that 
event,  that  Jesus  the  Christ  is  set  forth  in  that  system  of  redemption 
as  a  lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  taking  away  the 
sin  of  the  world.  Which  shows  there  was  no  long  period  of  time 
from  the  beginning — the  existence  of  material  things — to  the  time  of 
man's  transgression,  but  that  his  fall,  as  to  time,  stands  back  very 
close  to  the  beginning  of  all  sublunary  things.  It  is  not  at  all  correct 
to  say  there  were  anterior  ages  before  man's  existence  began.  There 
is  no  revelation  of  it,  and  without  a  revelation  from  the  Creator  it 
could  not  be  known.  And  we  have  shown  there  is  no  foundation  in 
nature  for  such  an  opinion. 

It  seems  that  the  Lord  took  more  time  in  making  the  man  and 
the  woman  than  any  other  thing  He  did  in  Creation.  Yet,  He  was 
mi;ch  longer  in  the  work  of  redeeming  man.  But  the  longest  of  all 
in  making  a  Bible  for  mankind;  that  work  reaching  from  man's 
Creation,  and  of  all  material  things,  to  the  time  the  writing  of  the 
New  Testament  was  finished.  If  His  law  as  set  forth  in  Scripture 
was  a  finished  work,  (Deut.  5  :22) ;  if  redemption  was  a  finished  work, 
(.lohn  10  :*}(!) ;  if  the  Bible  as  a  whole  was  a  finished  work,  (Rev. 
22:lS-li>,  Deut.  12:82),  why  should  we  suppose  that  Creation   alcyie 


TIIK  STORY  OF  (CREATION.  lof). 

of  all  His  wna-ks  was  loft  iiiconiplele?  And  that  the  word  finished 
here  must  assiuno  a  different  meaniiijj-  to  its  usual  meaning?  ((ren. 
L*  ■A-2).     So  would  the  word  ended  have  to  take  a  new  meaninj^,  too. 

It  cannot  he  proved  that  anything;  has  been  added  since  that 
account  said,  "(xod  ended  His  work  which  He  had  made."  (den.  2  :2.) 
Of  course  every  generation  is  His  Creation — workmanship  produced 
out  of  that  which  He  primarily  "created  and  made."  Neither  has 
anything  in  physical  nature  been  lost,  for  if  any  species  of  animals 
have  become  extinct  as  to  their  organization,  they  are,  nevertheless, 
represented  in  that  volume  of  nature  that  now  is.  Thus  she  holds 
lier  own,  never  loses  anything  nor  gains  anything,  is  ever  perfect, 
has  never  progressed  after  the  order  these  writers  want  to  mark  out 
for  her,  but  has  only  increased  her  inhabitants  after  the  orders  they 
nil  received  in  the  day  of  their  Creation. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


SoMi:  naturalists  want  to  say  that  the  l;)lrds  came  from  rej^tiles. 
When  liie  reptiles  saw  tliat  was  the  fashion  why  didn't  they  all  adopt 
it,  put  on  wings  and  fly?  As  long  as  there  are  any  reptiles  in  this 
world,  so  long  will  nature  stnnd  against  their  theory.  If  it  ever  had 
been  a  law  in  noture  for  snakes  o?  other  reptiles  to  bccomr'  birds, 
such  would  be  her  course  now,  but  since  mankind  has  hovn  upon 
earth,  such  a  thing  has  not  been  done,  and  if  she  has  not  been  known 
to  do  it  in  that  length  of  time,  of  course,  she  never  did  it.  For  her 
to  do  it  at  any  time  would  be  a  miracle;  and  that  they  can't  bear  in 
their  theory.  Nor,  of  herself,  did  she  ever  do  a  miracle  ;  all  miracles 
are  from  her  Author. 

Now  anybody  knows,  if  it  was  true,  there  is  no  reason  for  suppos- 
ing that  oidy  a  few  of  them  became  birds,  while  the  grpat  majority 
of  them  did  not.  No  workman  leaves  so  many  chips ;  it  would  be  a 
sorry  one  that  would  waste  so  much  material.  The  same  applies  to 
every  creature  they  have  tried  to  change  into  a  higher.  Never  has 
the  change,  however,  been  anywhere  found;  it  is  not  j^roved  at  a 
single  point.  Some  of  them,  however;  claim  no  higher  authority 
than  an  hypothesis — supposition — for  it.  'if  that  is  all,  it  is  best  for 
them  before  (lod  and  all  men,  to  desist  from  all  such  things,  for  a 
person  might  trifle  with  a  falsehood  until  belief  of  it  would  capture 
the  mind. 

It  is  all  done  for  this  purpose.  They  want  to  say  that  mankind 
came  from  apes.  We  all  know  that  if  one  could  change  himself  into 
a  man,  all  of  them  could  and  would,  for  they  are  the  most  imitative 
of  all  animals.  As  long,  therefore,  as  any  apes  are  found  in  this 
world,  it  shows  that  their  case  is  not  y;iade  out. 

That  nature  now,  unaided  by  Divine  power,  could  make  a  man  out 
of  an  ape,  is  a  thing  that  no  one  believes.  Why,  then,  should  we 
believe  she  ever  did  do  such  a  thing?  Of  course  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble for  an  ape  to  make  himself  a  man,  and  if  they  had  had  the  ]irivi- 
lege  of  becoming  men  they  could  not  have  agreed  among  themselves 
which  should  be  the  women,  for  there  is  no  creature  on  earth  that  is 
willing  to  be  a  woman.     The  women  themselves  want  to  be  men. 


lUO.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

Tlie  ^'isl  of  tlie  whole  matter  with  these  writers  seomsi  to  be  this  ; 
They  wish  it  ^vere  a  fact  that  they  have  no  soul.  I,  myself,  some- 
times in  childhood,  wished  I  was  a  bird,  but  T  didn't  then  think  of 
the  Tiecessary  consequences. 

It  is  strange,  if  a  man  had  no  revehxtion  from  (ro.d  to  guide  liim, 
that  he  ever  should  conclude  ho  came  from  apes,  for  he  sees  that 
nature  of  herself  performs  no  miracles.  What  is  extraordinary  In 
her  work  is  called  phenomenal ;  her  ordinary  course  is  so  common  to 
us  the  wonder  of  it  passes  unnoticed,  but  tlie  plienomenal  attracts 
great  attention,  yet  it  is  no  more  wonderful  than  what  slie  does  every 
day.  If  we  had  never  seen  the  common  it  would  had  been  as  hard 
to  believe,  on  its  narration,  as  all  the  miracles  recorded  in  botii  Tes- 
taments. Jf  a  man  will  think,  he  can  see  that  to  raise  the  dead  is 
not  more  mysterious  than  wliat  tlie  Almiglity  is  doing  every  day  in 
all  the  natural  universe.  If  history  repe'ats  herself,  so  does  nature 
more  truly.  Day  after  day,  year  after  year,  century  after  century, 
the  repetition  has  never  failed  to  come.  It  is  clear,  therefore,  if 
nature  ever  did  make  human  beings  out  of  apes,  she  would  not  stop. 
What  otlier  operation  lias  she  stopped?  She  couldn't  stop,  notliing 
t)nt  Divine  interposition  could  stop  her,  and  that  would  overthrow 
their  theory  as  completely  as  it  did  the  tower  of  l>a.bel,  the  first 
invention  of  the  kind.     (Gen.  11  :l-9). 

They  don't  seem  to  think,  however,  Ihat  but  one  ape  evolved  a 
man.  If  that  were  true,  or  if  quite  a  number  liad,  they  would  have 
l)een  too  weak,  unprepared  and  inexperienced  at  first,  to  protect 
themselves  against  the  enemies  to  their  existence.  For,  on  their 
theory,  all  the  animals  were  in  the  world  at  least  one  of  their  indefi- 
nitely long  ages,  aiid  increasing  in  numbers  all  that  time,  and  of 
course  were  numerous,  before  their  evolved  man  appeared;  weak  in 
intellect,  too,  scarcely  aljove  an  ape,  as  a  matter  of  course  it  would 
be  impossible  for  it,  or  a  number  of  such,  to  live  among  the  carniv- 
orous beasts. 

And  it  is  no  use  for  any  of  tliem  to  modify  and  try  to  hitch  it  on 
to  (rod's  Creation,  for  it  does  not  harmonize  with  nature  any  more 
than  it  does  with  common  ijense. 

With  them  the  immediate  ancestor  of  man  was  an  anthropoid  ape, 
as  the  gorilla,  chimpanzee  or  orang-outang;  but  they  do  not  say 
who  was  his  ancestress.  Soon  after  he  begot  the  man  he  died,  and 
no  trace  of  him  has  ever  been  found  anywhere  on  earth,  nor  in  the 
earth. .     Surely  they  can  beat  the  ancients  making  fables. 

Tlie  inability  to  find  any  of  liis  remains,  is  regretted  by  them  as  a 
very  great  misfortune.  If  such  remains  were  found,  it  would  no 
more  make  out  their  case  than  what  are  now  living  in  the  world. 

What  they  claim  as  their  latest  and  best  proof  on  the  subject,  is 
this:  There  were  found  in  1891  and  1892  some  osseous  remains  in 
the  Island  of  Java.  The  upper  half  of  a  skull,  a  femur— thigh  bone — 
and  a  single  tooth;  as  these  pieces  lay  within  a  few  yards  of  each 
other,  they  are  supposed  to  be  of  the  same  individual.  It  would  be 
as  reasonable  to  suppose  that  they  belonged  to  three  individuals. 

The  skull  would  indicate  higher  development  of  brain  power  than 
any  known  ape,  but  about  two-thirds   less  than  the  average  for  man. 


THE  S'i'ORV  OF  CRKATTOX.  ]<i7. 

Tlioy  suppose,  llu'rclorc,  it  was  ;in  aniiiinl  :il)ov(>  the  apes,  hiil  il  is 
more  likoly  tlial  it  is  the  skull  of  a  Iraman  l)Oin<;  of  low  (li'vclopiiiciil 
in  hraiii  power ;  especially  as  there  is  no  proof  tlial  the  tlirec  l)Oiu'S 
heloiiirofl  to  the  same  individual.  1  have  seen  many  a  tooth  lyin;;' 
by  itself  of  animals  and  of  human  Ikmii^s,  and  I  knew  t  iiis  was  an 
animal's  and  that  a  human  tooth.  And  what  did  their  presence 
prcn-e?  That  there  was  thereabouts  an  animal  and  a  liuiruin  bein.u' 
in  SOUK'  time  past.  There  is  no  ]iroof  that  the  tooth  and  the  femur 
were  of  the  same  individual,  or  that  the  skidl  l)elon,<fed  with  either  of 
tlie  otiiers."  Yet  upon  sucli  testimony  as  that,  they  ehiim  it  as  cer- 
tain that  there  was  there  an  individual  above  any  known  ape  in 
brain  power,  and  about  two-thirds  below  the  average  for  man  ;  that 
'^i.i  it  wa^mnimal  between  apes  and  man,  and  exult  over  it  as  the  lon<^ 
sought  ancestor  of  the  human  race.  They  failed  to  discover,  or  say 
at  least,  whether  it  was  male  or  female.  If  it  was  a  female,  they 
can't  tit  her  into  their  chain,  for  there  are  no  ancestresses  in  it.  I 
think  the  truth  is  this,  there  perished  one  or  more  savages  at  that 
place,  all  else  of  their  remains  decomposed,  except  the  half  skull 
and  femur,  and  one  of  them  had  an  ape's  tooth  as  a  trinket  or  charm, 
which  is  commonlj'  worn  b}'-  the  savage  for  some  superstitious  reason. 

Those  bones  were  found,  it  is  said,  "in  a  stratum  of  volcanic  tufa." 
If  a  whole  skeleton  had  been  present,  doubtless,  all  of  i{  v.-ould  hav(^ 
been  preserved:  the  inference  is,  therefore,  that  none  of  it  or  of 
others,  were  there  when  that  stratum  formed.  Being  as  far  apart  as 
they  were,  shows  that  they  did  not  belong  to  a  skeleton  that  had 
decomposed,  leaving  only  those.  Perhaps  the  skull  was  a  good  aver- 
age for  the  human  inhabitants  of  that  country  at  that  time.  We 
could  not  expect  tliem  to  be  an  average  for  civilized  mankind.  Even 
in  civilized  lands  could  be  found  those  living  now  who  are  below  an 
average  for  man,  and  yet  above  tlie  highest  of  apes,  known  to 
be  real  human. 

If  remains  could  be  found  of  an  average  between  man  and  the 
highest  developed  apes,  it  would  be  no  proof  that  mankind  came  from 
that  source.  Not  at  all ;  for  many  such  are  living  now,  not  only  in 
savage  countries,  w'here  they  find  their  examples,  but  in  the  most 
civilized,  too.  \\'hat  man  could  live  through  a  common  lifetime 
without  seeing  such  examples  of  low  development  in  brain  power 
and  physical  development  accQinpanying  it  of  inferior  order,  al- 
though human?  So  if  excavation  finds  them,  the  anatomists  need 
not  l)ring  them  forward  for  that  purpose. 

In  the  Creation  the  creature  nearest  to  human  kind  was  the  origi- 
nal serpent.  He  evidently  had  the  power  of  speecli,  stood  erect, 
walked  only  on  two  feet,  perhaps.  That  is  the  missing  link.  It  was 
lost  in  the  fall  of  man  and  in  the  fall  of  the  serpent,  too.  The  Judge 
of  all  saw  that  it  v/ould  not  henceforth  do  for  them  to  be  so  much 
alike.  And  He  foresaw  that  the  devil  would  try  to  fool  juen  willi  his 
remains  if  they  were  ever  found  in  distant  ages,  so,  therefore,  his 
remains,  like  the  grave  of  Moses,  are  not  found  unto  this  day.  (Deut. 
5i-t:(),  Jude  Otli  verse.)  The  Lord  changed  his  form  before  he  died — 
made  him  crawl,  without  feet  at  that,  and  lick  and  eat  dust.  ((ien. 
5>:11  and  Is.  (')i^)  :'27)) .      An  eviflence  of  a  complete  vi<'tory  over  him  and 


108.  'the  story  of  creation. 

the  devil,  loo. 

Evolution  is  a  trick  of  the  devil  to  catch  tho.'^e  he  would  not  other- 
wise get,  as  a  brilliant  young  preacher  is  said  to  liave  been  ruined 
by  an  associate  whom  he  regarded  as  a  friend,  though  a  skeptic. 

It  is  indeed  strange  that  a  man  who  has  had  a  Christian  experience 
would  suffer  himself  to  be  led  in  the  least  against  it,  by  one  that  has 
never  had  it.  For  being  born  again  of  ttie  Spirit  of  God,  he  has 
something  the  other  has  not,  and  cannot  know  of,  and  can,  therefore, 
make  no  sensible  argument  against  it.  At  least  none  but  are  easily 
answered  by  one  that  is  a  converted  person.     (1  Pet.  8:15j. 

These  writers  remind'us  of  a  prophecy  written  full  2,60U  years  ago, 
"And  thou  shalt  be  brought  down,  and  shall  speak  out  of  the  grouitd, 
and  thy  speech  shall  be  low  out  of  the  dust,  and  th.y  voice  shall  be  as 
of  one  that  hath  a  familiar  spirit,  out  of  the  ground,  and  thy  speech 
shall  whisper  out  of  the  dust.''     (Is.  29:4). 

It  is  a  striking  description  of  them  and  of  their  teaching  today. 
The  sixteenth  verse  of  the  same  chapter  represents  their  theory  in  a 
very  forceful  manner,  "Surely  your  turning  of  things  upside  down 
shall  be  esteemed  as  the  potter's  clay :  for  shall  the  work  say  of  him 
that  made  it.  He  made  me  not?  Or  shall  the  thing  framed  say  of 
him  that  framed  it.  He  had  no  understanding?" 

They  say  they  teach  that  man  ascended  instead  of  descended. 
Their  theory  is  like  putting  the  roof  of  a  house  on  the  ground  and 
the  sills  on  top  of  all.  So  when  it  rains  the  torrents  will  pour  all 
through  it.  If  they  depend  upon  it,  that  will  be  the  moral  result 
that  Avhen  their  souls  most  need  a  shelter  they  will  have  none.  Like 
the  foolish  virgins,  when  they  most  needed  light  their  lamps  went  out. 
(Matt.  25  :8-18).  And  the  rankest  of  them  try  to  make  the  creatures 
say.  He  made  lis  not.  And  the  things  which  they  claim  that  man 
came  from  had  no  understanding. 

For  a  being  that  hath  understanding  to  be  ancestored  by  a  being 
that  hath  no  understanding  is  an  absurdity,  an  impossibility.  To 
think  it,  is  unphilosophic.  To  teach  it  is  unscientific.  If  it  should 
occur  it  would  pervert  nature.  It  is  like  looking  for  effect  where 
there  is  no  cause  to  produce  it.  To  illustrate,  a  farmer  can't  expect 
wheat  to  grow  where  there  is  not  a  grain  of  wheat  for  it  to  spring 
from.  So,  for  there  to  be  human  minds  there  must  be  first  a  human 
mind  for  them  to  spring  from.  Edu(,'ation  is  artificial,  it  has  to  rest 
upon  natural  mind  as  its  basis.  There  was  a  first  human  mind  out 
of  which  have  sprung  all  other  human  minds.  That  first  human 
mind  could  not  have  sprung  from  anything  below  itself.  Nor  could 
it  have  originated  itself.  It  must  have  come  from  that  that  gave  it 
being.     That  was  the  Divine  mind. 

If  the  president  of  the  United  States  has  no  authority  can  he  im- 
part authority  to  another?  So  that  which  by  nature  has  no  mind 
cannot  impart  mind  to  anything  else.     We  have  the  conclusion. 

Nor  can  the  president  impart  authority  higher  than  he  holds  him- 
self. So  no  animal  can  by  any  means  make  a  being  higher  than 
himself.  Nor  could  the  president  lawfully  go  higher  than  he  is.  So 
no  animal  within  the  laws  of  nature  can  go  higher  than  his  own  nature 
IDlaces  him,  nor  can  he  change  his   nature.     Therefore,  evolution  of 


Tin:  STORY  OF  OTIEATION.  KiO. 

iiiiui  fnmi  anytliinsi-  hel<nv  himself  is  an   altsurrlity,  an  impnssiluiil y. 


ClIAl^TKR  XVII. 


In  liie  olden  times  imasres  were  made  of  many  kinds  of  livin«-  erea- 
tiires,  and  the  creature  worshiped  by  mankind  tliroiigh  the  image. 
Bui  now  Iheir  advanced  followers,  will,  to  avoid  that  restraint  the 
^\'ord  of  God  requires;  or  the  doing  of  those  righteous  duties  it 
enjoins;  go_the  seashore,  bring  out  a  living  thing,  or  as  to  that,  a 
dead  one  will  do  as  well,  examine  it  with  a  great  deal  of  interest,  but 
instead  of  admiring  its  mechanism  and  the  wisdom  of  that  Creator 
who  made  it,  and  themselves,  too,  will  get  dowii  low  and  ask  it  a 
so-called  scientific  question,  and  the  devil,  who  is  always  present  at 
such  operations,  will  give  through  the  thing  a  so-called  scientific 
answer,  which  none  but  such  naturalists  can  hear:  Are  you  notour 
father?  Yes,  and  I  fatheretl  vour  inammv  and  daddv,  too.  (.[ohn 
8:44,  .Jer.  2:17,  Is.  i4:U-2U). 

Idolatry  takes  on  many  forms.  Tlie  opposition  to  Grod's  truth  in 
wicked  human  hearts  assumes  many  shapes.  It  is  the  cloven  foot  of 
the  devil,  and  so  blinded  by  him  are  some  of  them,  that  they  to  him 
even  existence  deny.  (2  Cor.  4:4).  In  pity  it  shows  how  blind  a  poor 
unconverted  heart  can  become  when  it  falls  a  prey  to  soni"  cnn'l 
I^rejudice.  Verily,  1  am  sorry  for  them  ;  the  Lord  have  nu-fc.s'  on 
them,  A  learned  man  may  be  fooled  by  the  devil  quite  as  easy  as  an 
unlearned  one. 

Long  ago  the  proverb  said,  "go  to  the  ant  *  *  *  and  learn  wisdom." 
(Prov.  (;:G-K)),  "Consider  her  waj's"  and  be  wise  unto  your  own  sal- 
vation ;  she  obeys  the  laws  of  her  being.  If  man  should  follow  her 
example,  lie  would  not  only  prepare  bodily  comforts  in  summer  for 
the  coming  winter,  but  lay  up  treasure  for  his  soul  in  tliat  approach- 
ing winter  of  his  spiritual  need.  If  he  fails  in  this,  however,  learned 
in  tliis  world's  wisdom,  he  will  I)e  called  a  fool  at  last.  (Luke  12:20). 
Doubtless  will  so  think  of  himself.  Mercy  forbid  it  to  you  and  me. 

Some  of  them  want  to  say  that  they  have  no  consciousness,  that 
their  actions  are  not  controlled  by  their  wills,  or,  in  other  words,  they 
are  not  responsible  for  their  acts.  It  is,  at  least,  presumptions  that 
they  will  find  out.  The  very  name — Agnostic — means,  I  don't  know. 
But  tliat  excuse  for  sin  and  unbelief  will  not  be  accepted  at  God's 
judgment,  it  will  be  retorted  from  that  tribunal,  you  had  both  the 
capacity  and  means  of  knowing  and  of  doing  your  dutj",  depart,  I  recog- 
nize you  not  as  justified.  Real  sins  of  ignorance  were  atoned  for  by 
extraordinai-y  mercy ;  Init  willful  or  coveted  ignorance  and  willful 
sins  never. 

^Ve  have  reason  to  be  thankful  that  we  are  made  as  we  are,  for  if 
many  of  our  actions  were  not  automatic  we  could  not  live.  For 
instance,  if  a  man's  breathing  depended  upon  his  will,  he  might  be 
so  closely  engaged  in  thought,  business,  work  or  pleasure  that  he 
would  either  forget  it,  or  postpone  it,  until  lie  would  die.  If  the  pul- 
sation of  his  heart  depended  upon  his  attention  in  either  thought  or 
act,  he  might  defer  it  for  something  else  to  be  done  until  Ik^  died 
from  lack  of  his  own    attention.       If   his   brain    activities   de])end('d 


110.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

xipon  his  volilion,  lie  mio-ht  perisli  from  his  own  negk^et  to  attend  to 
them.  If  lie  hud  to  attend  to  all  or  any  of  these  necessary  things  to 
his  own  life,  and  should  be  attacked  by  an  enemy,  he  could  neither 
fight  nor  run.  And  if  it  were  necessary  for  any  one  to  discourse  in 
music  or  oratory,  a  person  could  not  do  it;  could  not  sujjport  his 
own  life  nor  defend  it,  would  be  no  account  for  anything.  It  is  well 
for  us,  therefore,  that  the  actions  of  our  vital  organs  are  automatic, 
and  that  they  furnish  us  the  ability  and  means  of  continuing  our 
outward  actions.  For  these  springing  as  they  do,  (Matt.  15  :19),  from 
that  Spirit  that  dwells  within  our  bodies,  we  are  accountable  to 
Almighty  God,  who  is  both  our  Maker  and  our  Judge. 

If  it  depended  upon  the  notice  of  your  horse  as  to  whether  he 
breathed  or  not,  or  whether  his  blo.od  circulated  or  not,  he  could  not 
work  for  you;  nor  could  your  ox,  if  those  actions  depended  upon  his 
attention  ;  neither  could  your  dog  bark  or  run  for  you,  if  he  had  to 
attend  to  those  necessary  actions  of  his  internal  organs. 

It  seems  that  no  man  could  for  a  moment  indulge  the  thouglit  that 
all  these  things  could  just  happen  to  be  so;  or  that  inertia  could  do 
it;  or,  as  the  modified  evolutionists  say,  "they  made  themselves." 

It  appears  that  some  men  spend  their  time  in  studying  these 
things,  yet  neglect  the  one  thing  needful  for  us  all.  (Luke  10  :538-l:2.) 
Saul  of  Tarsus  was  learned  in  the  full  curriculum  of  his  times,  but 
when  w.e  was  brought  to  a  conscious  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  ho 
called  it  the  excellency  of  knowledge.  (Phil.  8:8).  It  is  indeed  the 
superior  wisdom  and  knowledge,  the  highest  that  mortals  can  attain 
unto. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  nature  of  herself  ever  evolved  men  or  any 
other  living  creatures,  why  don't  she  do  it  today?  Why  would  she 
will  of  herself  to  stop,  and  do  so  never  again?  The  Creator  willed  to 
stop  creating  and  rest  on  the  Sabbath  day.  which  He  then  made. 
But  nature  keeps  no  Sabbath,  therefore,  she  would  not  stop,  nor  could 
she  unless  her  Author  so  ordered  her.  So  they  can't  make  it  without 
God  and  the  Bible. 

No  student  should  pursue  his  studies  in  nature  without  a  true  copy 
of  the  Bible  at  his  hand  and  freely  used,  and  without  which,  he  is 
liable  to  be  led  into  false  conclusions.  And  if  you  ever  read  what  I 
write,  that  will  also  be  the  best  way  to  do,  for  many  of  the  best  points 
are  only  referred  to — the  language  unquoted.  It  is  easier  for  you  to 
read  them  than  for  me  to  write  them,  and  will  help  you  more. 
Drink  at  the  fountain  head. 

Without  a  knowledge  of  the  Bible  and  a  just  consideration  of  the 
reasonable  effects  of  the  flood  and  of  the  destruction  of  the  antedilu- 
vian life,  and  the  probability  that  those  effects  at  that  time  were  felt 
through  the  whole  earth — which  is  the  most  reliable  view  of  the  sacred 
text — he  cannot  account  for  many  things  he  will  see.  The  Bible 
'^^A  furnished  to  me  a  satisfactory  reason  for  everything  in  nature,  and 
an  answer  to  every  seemingly  contradictory  position  taken  by  any 
class  of  writers  on  nature  or  the  Bible. 

The  Scriptures  ascribe  many  changes  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  to 
providence  since  ('reation,  and  since  the  flood.  As  He  chaiigeth  a 
fruitful  field  into  a  desert  ;   and  the  plain  that  was  like   unto   a  well 


TilE  STORY  OF  OREATIOX.  111. 

watered  ,<i-arden  into  a  sea  of  deutli ;  and  a  desert  into  a  well  watered 
country.   (Is.  41 :18-20,  Gen.  Hi  :10,  Is.  48  :19-2U,  Is.  24  :1,  Mai.  1  :;}-4). 

To  rightly  appreciate  the  siibject,  we  should  consider  also  the 
ell'ects  of  sin  and  its  curse  which  brought  changes  upon  all  nature. 
It  so  aifected  Adam  and  Eve  with  blindness  toward  omniscience  that 
they  endeavored  to  hide  from  the  Lord.  And  many  sinners  are  rep- 
resented as  so  doing — ancient,  and  modern — many  of  them  called 
great  men  at  that.  (Rev.  G:]ij-17).  IMan  was  weakened  in  a  thi*ee- 
fold  sense.  Everything  malerial  on  the  earth,  and  in  the  body  of  the 
I'arlh,  sull'ered  willi  him  corrospondingl^y ;  both  in  the  fall  and  in  the 
curse. 

The  groimd  was  cursed  for  man's  sake;  her  surface  had  henceforth 
to  be  tilled  to  yield  a  supi)ort  for  him.  And  doubtless  a  tremor 
passed  through  the  whole  bulk  of  the  earth  corresponding  with  the 
eti'ect  of  the  curse  on  her  surface.  As  it  was  universal,  as  nature 
shows,  on  her  surface,  so  it  must  have  been  univei-sal  in  her  bulk. 
All  nature,  therefore,  carries  the  impress  of  it  unto  this  day.  Where- 
ever  the  foot  of  man  treads,  if  thoughtful  and  observant,  he  can  but 
see  the  footprints  of  Divine  wrath.  Nor  can  he  go  deep  enough  below 
her  surface  to  get  beyond  them,  for  they  struck  deep  into  her.  And 
there  is  yet  another  event  that  must  not  be  overlooked.  St.  Paul  says, 
"\\'here  sin  abounded,  grace  did  much  more  abound."  (Roni.  '>:'2i^). 
So  when  man  sinned  there  must  have  been  effects  in  all  nature  some- 
what like  those  when  he  was  redeemed.  If  the  rocks  were  rent  when 
('hrist  died  on  the  cross,  then  by  analogy  they  may  have  been  wdien 
man  sinned.  The  darkness  which  St.  Luke  says  w^as  over  all  the 
earth,  (2;>:44),  is  acknowledged  bj'  heathen  writers  to  have  been  wit- 
nessed in  their  lands:  and  no  eclipse  anywhere;  the  phenomena  were 
purely  supernatural.  As  natui-e  everywhere  sympathized  with  Christ 
while  suffering  on  the  ci'oss  and  bore  witness,  so  she  must  have  done 
when  man  fell,  which  made  it  necessary.  The  Lord's  testimony  is  a 
lasting  witness,  so  we  should  not  be  surprised  to  find  witness  of  these 
events  in  all  the  earth  today. 

As  on  the  top  of  the  ground,  and  in  the  waters,  and  in  the  distant 
skies.  His  witnesses  are  met,  .shall  we  not  expect  to  see  them  in  the 
))Owels  of  the  earth  too?  They  are  to  witness  to  that  plainer  state- 
ment of  truth  He  gives  in  His  word.  (Ps.  19  :1-11.)  ^len  will  be  able 
to  read  them  for  His  gloi-y  when  they  become  sufficiently  wise.  The 
liible  helps  us  to  a  better  understanding  of  nature  than  we  otherwise 
could  have. 

In  Ilis  moral  goodness  the  Lord  intends  while  He  chastens  to  teach 
lis  lessons  for  our  higher  good,  if  we  will  but  have  the  wisdom  to 
read  them  aright.     (James  1 :5-7). 

Yet  some  who  have  not  been  favored  with  the  ijrecious  knowledge 
of  (lod  and  of  His  word,  are  sure  not  to  fail  to  take  the  devil  along 
with  them,  and  he  himself  i>>  always  willing  to  go,  for  he  does  not 
like  to  he  alone,  and  enjoys  as  far  as  a  devil  can,  the  company  of  all 
liis  servants,  whether  they  be  learned  or  otherwise;  he  says,  1  also 
will  take  a  walk,  (Job  1  :7),  and  at  every  turn  he  will  try  to  avert 
their  hearts  and  minds  from  the  truth.  (Acts  18:8).  They  will  often 
pause,  and  think,  and  say;      "'.Vature  si'eiiis  to    have   be{^n    olV   here. 


112.  THE  STOEY  OF  OREATIOX. 

This  certainly  is  not  agreeable  to  lier  ordinary  course.  There  cer- 
tainly must  have  been  a  catastrophe  here.  It  seems  to  have  been  a 
sudden  bursting  t'ortii  of  tlie  pent  up,  Utica.  An  exertion  of  extraor- 
dinary forces."  So,  so;  but  the  devil  is  ashamed  to  own  up;  yet  he 
had  as  well  to,  for  he  will  have  to,  and  all  who  follow  his  thoughts 
will  have  to  make  their  acknowledgments,  too.  And  well  for  them  if 
they  can  get  off  that  easy. 

Sin  has  also  affected  eartli's  seasons,  her  climate,  her  atmosphere, 
everything  connected  with  her,  and  in  her,  a\)  of  which  have  their 
corresponding  effects  upon  all  nature.  In  them  all  are  lessons  of 
wisdom  to  us  for  our  good.  Climaxes  of  wickedness  have  at  different 
times  had  effect  upon  physical  geogranhy  by  their  curses.  Some 
countries,  by  His  curses  upon  them,  have  been  made  waste;  while 
others,  by  His  blessing  upon  rigliteousness,  are  fruitful  and  happy. 
Neither  may  we  say  it  is  only  jDoetic  imagerj^,  for  dumb  nature  wit- 
nesses with  the  Bible  on  it.  Tyre,  Nineveh,  Babylon  and  Edom  are 
examples  of  it. 

Of  old  they  said,  "this  rock  is  witness,"  (Gen.  HI  -Ai-iH).  So  it  is 
this  day,  God's  witnesses  may  I)e  found  in  every  country,  on  the  sur- 
face, under  the  surface,  and  a])ovo  the  earth,  if  man  will  not  close 
his  eyes  to  His  light,  and  His  claims  upon  him.     (Mai.  1  :6). 

Surely  He  has  cut  them  oft'  from  all  excuse  for  not  serving  Him. 
They  will,  if  they  refuse  all  His  light,  grope  their  way  in  darkness, 
(Jer.  18:16),  and  statid  alone  in  His  judgment,  or  fall.     (Rev.  tirlT). 

The  Lord  does  in  nature  manj^  things  which  excite  our  curiosity. 
For  man  Jieeds  to  learn,  and  he  lias  to  have  something  to  stimulate 
his  ambition  to  study.  If  it  is  a  love  of  holiness  to  the  Lord  and  to 
all  mankind,  as  in  some,  that  is  sufficient;  biit  some  will  discard 
that;  then  Providence  will  let  them  be  aroused  by  otlier  m.eans,  to 
xise  their  otlierwise  inert  powers.  Now  the  devil  knew  these  curios 
had  been  pre'^erved  and  he  took  an  interest  with  them  in  finding  of 
them  in  order  to  puzzle  tliem  with  them. 

The  Lord  has  His  special  agencies  for  ever}'  age  of  inankind,  to 
work  for  the  good  of  it  and  of  all  to  come.  And  the  devil  never  fails  to 
have  his;  he  tries  to  imitate  or  counterfeit  the  Divine  methods;  so 
he  Jias  a  change  of  metliod  to  work  upon  mankind  in  every  age.  He 
is  working  now,  so  it  appears  at  least,  as  a  so-called  scientist.  "An 
angel  of"  scientific  "light,"  (2  Cor.  11:14),  to  divert  men's  minds 
from  that  abundant  light  which  will  shine  forth  from  the  Word  and 
work  of  God  in  the  not  distant  future,  for  the  furtherance  of 
Christianity. 

Nature  and  the  Bible  in  concert  with  providence  and  the  operation 
of  the  Spirit  of  (xod  on  men's  hearts,  are  designed  to  ^ead  man — all 
mankind — to  a  proper  belief  in  C'lirist.  and  eternal  salvation  through 
Him.  If  they  keep  on  they  will  find  the  result  of  all  will  be  to  bring 
them  to  the  Scriptures;  for  the  Lord  will  hold  them  steadily  in  His 
grasp  until  He  brings  them  there.  He  has  called  many  a  young  man 
to  preach  the  gospel,  who  shrank  from  the  task.  Yet  the  Lord  let 
him  prepare  for  andtlier  profession,  then  brought  before  him  a  cer- 
tain train  of  circumstances  which  lead  him  to  become  willing  to  work 
for  the  Lord,  anywhere,  and  in  any  way  He  wanted  liim    to.     And 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATIOX.  11:}. 

now,  he  was  a  well  prepared  subject  for  His  use. 

So  He  suffers  this  work  to  go  on,  seemingly  against  His  revealed 
truth,  but  is  permitting  it,  perhaps,  as  a  preparation  for  soim^thing 
He  has  in  view.  And  all  these  lines  of  investigation  will  doubtless 
meet  in  His  general  truth,  for  the  general  good  of  all  mankind,  in 
the  then  known  harmony  of  nature  with  the  Bible.  The  Lord  fore- 
sees events  and  provides  for  them  befoi'ehand.  When  He  was  on 
earth,  in  man's  estate,  doing  His  majestic  works,  while  He  as  a  man 
was  yet  alive.  He  provided  for  His  own  burial  unknown  to  the  twelve 
apostles,  and  even  unto  the  doer  of  that  work,  yet  that  work  was 
going  on.  Then  it  was  that  Joseph  of  Ariniathea  did  unknowingly 
and  unintentionally  a  kind  favor  for  his  great  Master  before  it  was 
needed.  As  when  did  the  devoted  Mary  unknown  to  others  and  even 
to  herself.  (Mark  lirS).  But  the  Lord  saw  through  it  all,  and  so 
did  the  Spirit  of  prophecy  centuries  before.  (Is.  58:9).  In  due  time 
the  services  of  these  devoted  ones  were  made  manifest  when  there  in 
that  garden  and  in  that  new  sepulchre,  wherein  man  had  not  lain, 
the  Son  of  (lod  was  buried  in  an  honorable  manner,  and  a  prophecy 
of  seven  centuries  was  fulfilled,  "He  shall  make  His  grave  with  the 
rich." 

Many  a  man  works  for  (lod  without  intending  it.  And  oft  He 
taketh  men  in  their  own  devices  against  Himself  and  causes  Ihem  to 
serve  His  jDurposes — in  His  own  glory  in  the  good  of  men.  No  man 
with  an  honest  heart  can  seek  for  truth  but  shall  be  rewarded  for  his 
pains:  and  whatever  of  truth  he  finds,  it  is  the  gift  of  (rod  to  Him. 
He  says,  "According  to  thy  faith,  so  be  it  unto  you."  Happy  for 
him  who  goes  through  that  well  lighted  way  we  find  in  the  Bible; 
also  happy  for  him  who  finds  God's  truth  through  the  fogs  of  science, 
or  the  tangled  meshes  of  philosophy. 

In  1  Tim.  6  :2U  we  are  warned  against  "Opposition  of  science  falselj^ 
so  called."  This  is  the  only  place  I  find  the  word  science  in  the 
Bible  except  in  Dan.  1:4.  In  Daniel  it  means  real  science.  But  I 
understand  St.  Paul  to  mean  hypotheses.  And  truly  all  such  is  only 
science  falsely  so  called.  Scientific  knowledge  has  never  yet  contra- 
dicted the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  encourages  all  true 
science.  And  so  it  does  all  real  philosophy,  but  warns  us  against  the 
vanity  of  conjectural  philosophy,     (Col.  2:8). 

The  pretentious  sometimes  show  their  weakness  by  opposing  Chris- 
tianitv.  But  with  the  help  of  the  first  foe  they  will  not  succeed. 
(Matt.  16:18). 

After  all,  it  may  be  that  the  opposition  will  help  Christianity  indi- 
rectly. It  may  cause  the  teachers  of  Christianity  to  study  more 
about  the  questions  they  spring,  and  thereby  be  better  prepared  to 
teach  the  real  truth  in  nature,  as  well  as  in  the  Bible,  on  all  the  sub- 
jects in  discussion,  than  they  otherwise  would  be.  The  Lord  knows, 
of  course,  what  will  be  the  result;  for  as  man  seeth  not.  He  sees  the 
end  from  the  beginning.  It  means,  so  I  think,  a  triumph  for  Chris- 
tianity, that  she  would  not  otherwise  so  completely  have. 

Since  the  miracles  of  Creation  He  has  not  used  His  miraculous 
power  in  nature  only  on  extraordinary  occasions — when  it  was  for 
His  glorv.     And  both  the  Old  and  the  New   Testament   being   estab- 


lU.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

lislied  by  miracles,  He  seems  to  leave  Cliristiaiiity,  as  He  did  nature 
after  Creation,  to  work  out  her  appointed  purposes  by  the  ordinary 
processes  of  grace.  Tlieone  under  the  continual  guidance  of  His  prov- 
idence, the  other  under  the  perpetual  administration  of  His  Holy 
Spirit.  (John  14:16-17.)  As  nature  moves  on  apparently  slowly  to 
her  appointed  goal,  so  Christianity,  like  the  leaven  in  the  measures 
of  meal,  slowly  it  may  appear  to  be,  yet  surely  permeates  every 
thought  of  man.  (2  Cor.  10:5),  all  systems  of  thought  among  men, 
bringing  them  all  into  subserviency  to  His  will  to  work  out  together 
His  ultimate  purnoses  of  grace  for  the  highest  universal  good  of 
mankind. 

When  nature  shall  have  reached  that  goal,  Christianity  will  be  in 
close  pace  with  her.  The  ultimate  consummation  of  His  purposes  in 
point  of  time  will  be  in  close  proximity.  With  these  two  concurrent 
events  time  herself  shall  roll  up  to  judgment.  Prophecy  declares 
that  time  is  to  be  no  more — shall  end.  The  end  of  time,  therefore, 
is  to  come.  It  is  said,  "Eternity  is  at  hand."  So  it  is  with  you  and 
me  as  regards  this  life.  The  end  of  all  things  is  so  comparatively  near 
He  says,  "it  is  at  hand."  (1  Pet.  1 :7).  However,  he  may  have  spoken 
according  to  geological  time,  whose  periods  seem  to  be  very  long. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Jesus  says,  "My  Father  worketli  hitherto,  and  I  work."  (John 
5:17).  While  here  in  the  flesh  He  wrought  both  Spiritual  and  phys- 
ical works.  He  does  not  say,  however,  what  was  the  work  His  Father 
was  engaged  in.  Herein  He  and  His  Father  both  set  us  an  example 
of  industry  in  all  of  our  work  and  business  as  well  as  in  our  devotions 
to  (xod,  and  our  duties  toward  our  fellow  beings,  for  no  man  should 
live  only  unto — for — himself,     (Rom.  11:7-8). 

In  the  purely  Divine  nature  the  Father  had  worked  since  man 
sinned,  preparing  the  human  family  for  this  hour — that  period  His 
Son  was  to  work  in,  and  tlirough  the  flesh,  for  the  redemption  of 
mankind.  What  the  Father  was  doing  had  reference  to  that  in 
bringing  about  the  necessary  ripeness  of  tlie  times  for  it,  as  did  what 
the  Son  was  now  doing,  referred  to  it.  Xot,  therefore,  that  He  was 
carrying  on  creative  works  by  slow  processes,  bringing  in  new  species 
of  beings,  for  it  is  evident  tluit  the  originals  of  all  species  that  ever 
existed — and  that  now  exist,  if  any  have  ceased  trom  existence — were 
made  at  first  by  the  Creator,  (Ex.  20:11);  not  by  nature.  God  is  the 
author  of  life ;  nature  of  herself  is  inert.  By  herself,  her  own  powey 
— for  she  has  none — she  cannot  give  life  to  anything.  Then  how  can 
she  change  species,  or  bring  in  new  species?  She  can  do  no  such 
things.  He  giveth  us  life,  and  to  everj'thing  that  liveth  anywhere. 
"In  Him  was  life ;  and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men.  (John  1:1). 
When  all  was  exposed  to  ruin  Christ  Jesus  gave  Himself  for  tlie  life 
of  the  world, 

A  certain  writer  has  said  that  president  A.  Lincoln  was  a  wise 
statesman,  from  the  fact  that  he  watched  the  movements  of  his  peo- 
ple and  never  did  an  executive  act  until  he  saw  they  were  ready  for 
it.     So  the  Almiglity  in  His  administration  lias  brought  everj'  epoch 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  11;'). 

upon  tlie  human  family,  when  the  I'nlhioss  of  the  times  were  ripe  for 
them.  So  we  find  in  tlie  Old  and  Xew  Testament  both.  Our  Savior 
often  told  men  in  their  haste  that  His  time  had  not  yet  come. 

Nature  was  adjusted  before  man  sinned  to  his  pristine  condition. 
After  he  sinned  she  was  readjusted  to  suit  his  fallen  condition,  and 
so  well  so,  that  many  have  supposed  that  the  Lord,  foreseeing  his 
fall,  provided  for  it  from  the  first;  but  that  obviously  is  a  wroni>; 
idea,  for  the  state  of  the  world  since  would  not  at  all  have  suited  his 
pristine  condition.  Then  nature  must  have  chan<i'ed  with  him,  out 
of  sympathy  for  him. 

The  Bible  and  nature  both  show  that  the  Lord  is  always  prepared 
to  meet  all  emergencies  that  may  arise,  but  that  He  never  does  any- 
thing until  the  right  and  best  time  for  it  to  be  done.  The  flood  is  an 
example;  the  burning  of  Sodom,  another;  the  exodus  out  of  Egypt, 
another.  The  destruction  of  the  Canaanites  must  wait  until  their 
cup  of  iniquity  is  full.  The  manifestation  of  (xod  in  the  flesh  must 
wait  for  the  fullness  of  the  times.  So  must  the  cross.  And  the  de- 
scent of  the  Spirit.  And  so  will  the  return  of  the  .Jews,  the  expected 
millennium  and  all  other  events  predicted  in  His  inspired  prophecy, 
wait  for  the  unfolding  of  the  Divine  drama.  So  when  in  the  mighty 
strokes  of  Paternity's  pendulum,  duration's  fullness  indicated  the  era 
for  the  Creation  of  all  the  material  worlds,  He  then  by  His  Almighty 
Word,  called  them  into  being,  and  stocked  them  with  or  not  with 
life,  as  He  saw  flt.  Since  then  He  has  been  working  for  the  highest 
happiness  of  those  He  then  created. 

The  Bible  is  intended,  so  T  think,  to  be  a  revelation  of  the  Deity 
and  His  works.  And  the  Scriptures  succeed  well  in  the  effort.  And 
nature,  too,  in  open  volume  stands  as  a  witness  from  the  same 
Author.  In  the  mouth  of  these  two  witnesses  every  word  of  (xod  is 
established. 

It  is  no  use  to  try  to  harmonize  the  Bible  with  speculative  science. 
Let  her  flrst  harmonize  with  nature's  truth,  then  she  will  be  in 
accord  with  the  Bible.  She  has  never  yet  found  that  truth.  What 
one  generation  of  her  advocates  declare  to  be  truth  in  nature,  the 
next,  with  equal  affirmation,  declares  to  be  a  mistake,  and  cry  Eureka  ! 
You  will  have  to  wait  until  she  flnds  the  foundation  before  you  can 
stand  with  her.  When  theology  agrees  with  the  Bible  it  is  sound ; 
and  when  science  agrees  with  nature  she  is  true,  not  before. 

Suppose  the  days  in  Creation  were  indeflnitely  long  periods  of 
time,  then  the  world's  experience  for  the  first  half  of  the  first  one  of 
them  would  be  in  total  darkness,  and  there  is  nothing  in  all  of  His 
revealed  works  that  could  compare  with  it,  except  it  be  the  place  of 
outer  darkness  ;  and  the  universe  waited  through  three  of  them  before 
it  received  any  sunlight.  H.  W.  Beecher  is  reported  to  have  said 
when  some  were  advocating  slow  processes  for  conversions,  ''The 
human  heart  is  a  rich  soil,  and  grace  is  a  quick  growth."  So,  doubt- 
less, in  Creation  "He  spake,  and  it  was  done;  He  commanded,  and 
it  stood  fast."  For  by  faith  we  understand  how  the  worlds  were 
framed  by  the  Word  of  (rod;   no  doubt  (luickly  framed. 

There  is — even  if  it  be  an  error — nothing  in  all  nature  that  proves  the 
contrarv.      Xor  rock,  nor  bono,  nothing  has  vet    been  found  that  con- 


116.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

tradicts  it.  As  far  as  tlie  influence  of  infidelity  in  scientific  circles 
j^oes,  it  is  in  favor  of  Romanism.  So  is  the  influence,  for  the  time 
being,  of  every  protestant  teacher  that  is  seduced  by  them  from  tlie 
Bible  truth.  For  through  these  they  will  rise  to  argue  against  relig- 
ious liberty  as  a  dangerous  thing.  And  it  is  a  pity,  to  tliemselves  at 
least,  that  they  should  make  so  poor  a  use  of  it.  It  seems  to  be 
unfortunate  for  the  public  welfare  that  any  such  defections  exist. 
Yet  Providen:^e  overrules  all  for  the  best. 

In  the  antediluvian  world  it  seems  tliat  tlie  giant  beasts  tried  to 
imitate  the  giant  men,  for  the  earth  was  full  of  violence,  (Gen.  6  :11- 
13.)  And  it  appears  that  the  Lord,  for  tlie  most  part,  left  them 
behind  in  time  of  the  flood.  Let  them  perish;  henceforth  not  to  be 
known  only  as  relics  of  past  greatness.  The  Divine  judgment  shows 
that  if  a  man  is  a  giant,  physically,  mentally,  morally  or  spiritually, 
over  men  to  lead  or  control  them,  he  should  be  careful  how  he  uses 
those  powers  which  his  Creator  has  given  hiin.  He  sliould  be  hum- 
ble before  his  INfaker;  should  thank  Him  for  such  rich  endowments 
and  use  them  2:>roperly,  or  any  of  them  may  become  a  curse  to  him. 

All  suppositions  against  Christ,  His  cause  and  teaching,  are  from 
the  enemy's  camp — darkness  he  occasionally  lets  escape  from  the 
bottomless  pit,  to  fool  all  the  weak  ones  he  can,  (Rev.  9  :'2'.)  And  the 
next  to  the  last  verse  of  this  chapter  shows  that  in  times  past  that 
men  worshipped  devils.  And  doubtless  many  do  now,  in  the  19th 
century. 

The  multiform  modulation  and  flexibility  of  the  natural  human 
voice  is  a  strong  proof  of  the  high  source  whence  it  came.  It  is  evi- 
dently "a  gift  Divine."  You  may  have  heard  many  a  splendid  voice 
in  oratory;  but  now  you  hear  one  that,  at  first,  is  droll  iijdeed.  You 
listen;  presently  its  very  oddness  takes  you  captive.  You  learn  to 
admire  it — fall  in  love  with  it — will  catch  yourself  intuitively  imitat- 
ing it. 

You  may  think  you  liave  heard  all  the  peculiar  intonations  that 
the  human  voice  is  capable  of ;  yet  you  have  not .  They  are  quite 
as  numerous  as  are  the  human  individuals  themselves.  The  blind 
learn  to  recognize  every  acquaintance  by  the  peculiarities  in  the  voice 
of  each  one.  It  is  just  so  in  conversation,  in  laughter,  in  song,  as 
well  as  in  oratory.  Now  could  we  become  so  depraved  in  heart  as  to 
suppose  that  such  a  splendid  piece  of  mechanism  as  the  wonderful 
human  voice,  in  all  its  variety,  in  the  millions  of  individuals,  for  all 
purposes,  as  it  is  used  today,  could  be  from  any  source  less  high  than 
the  Supreme  Himself? 

See  also  what  various  shades  of  dispositions  prevail  in  human 
beings.  Now  here  is  one  who  always  appears  happy  to  every  one 
she  meets,  dispensing,  as  sunlight,  joy  in  every  heart  that  meets,  her, 
taking  especial  notice  of  the  children,  however  poor,  or  degraded  their 
parents  may  be — like  a  happy  messenger  of  good  cheer  everywhere 
she  goes;  as  an  holy  angel  in  mortal's  attire.  Is  it,  as  some  philoso- 
phers have  said,  education?  No.  Is  it  converting  grace?  No.  Is  it 
religious  culture?  No.  What  is  it  then?  It  is  nature.  It  is  a  hap- 
py blending  together  of  certain  qualities  of  human  nature  by  provi- 
dence in  prenatal  hours,  to  tit  the  subject  to  All  a  peculiar  mission  in 


THK  STORY  OF  CREATION.  117. 

this  world  for  wlik-h  Uv  lays  tlie  foundutioii  to  build  upon  by  all  those 
itioans  of  iinproveniont.  And  he  is  mistaken  who  ascribes  it  to  any- 
thin*;  loss  than  (fod  in  ("Ireation.      It  is  one  of  (/reation's  proofs. 

And  here  is  one  of  a  dillerent  disposition  almost  lost  in  admiration 
of  her  sister  whom  she  thi!iks  is  so  happily  endowed  with  these  fine 
(pialitios;  yet  no  doubt  is  just  as  holy  as  the  other,  but  eonstructed  in 
heart  and  mind  difl'erfMitly,  for  a  dill'erent  mediuiii  in  this  world,  and 
doin<,'  the  best  she  ean  with  her  j,nfts,  in  the  field  alloted  to  iier.  shall 
be  equally  blessed  at  last.  The  principal  difference  between  the  two 
is,  the  first  has  more  courage  than  the  other. 

Many  examples  of  the  two  kinds  mentioned  above  i)revail  in  indi- 
viduals of  either  sex;  atul  tiio  different  dispositions  are  as  numerous 
as  the  persons  themselves,  and  is,  therefore,  a  very  groat  proof  of 
Divine  aj,'ency  in  the  Creation  of  each.  As  the  peculiarities  in  each 
bear  the  similitude  of  the  parents,  so  in  a  spiritual  sense  every 
human  boin.i;|;  bears  the  insi<>;nia  of  Divine  parentage.  So  that  we 
may  truly  say,  "We  are  also  His  otTspring."     (Acts  17:28). 

It  is  true  sin  has  defaced  the  image  of  God  in  us  by  nature  very 
badly,  yet  regeneration  renews  its  every  subject  in  the  similitude  of 
Him  that  created  him.  Nor  does  man  bear  the  image  of  anything 
below  himself.  Every  living  creature  below  him  has  something  in 
common  with  him,  and  some  of  them  have  a  resemblance  to  him  in 
their  organization,  but  it  only  shows  the  unity  of  all  His  works — 
imity  in  limitless  variety.  All  material  things  meet  in  man's  body, 
while  his  soul  links  him  with  heaven.  His  body  is  an  epitome  of  all 
earthly  ingredients,  and  if  a  man  will  think  of  this  it  will  relieve  him 
<»f  all  doubts,  if  he  has  any,  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  Let  him 
think  of  the  vast  resources  that  were  drawn  upon  to  support  those 
l)odies  of  his  parents ;  occupied  before  he  drew  being  from  them — 
and  his  own  was  being  curiously  framed,  (Ps.  189:14-16),  and  of  the 
resources  that  sustained  his  own  in  childhood  and  youth  and  in  all  his 
riper  years  since,  and  he  will  see  that  every  zone  of  earth  has  been 
taxed  to  give  him  and  to  support  the  body  he  now  has  all  these  years. 
Xor  will  it  cost  providence  more  to  furnish  the  resurrected  l)ody.  It 
is  by  no  means  more  incredulous  than  how  we  got  the  bodies  we  now 
liave  ;   and,  too,  how  they  have  been  sustained  all  the  days  of  our  lives. 

If  any  doubt  it  is  because  they  do  not  take  sufficient  pains  to 
think.  H  they  would  only  think  on  it  as  they  should,  their  doubts 
would  vanish  like  fog  before  the  sun  ;  or  it  would  dissipate  the  dark- 
ness, fill  the  space  witli  light,  as  the  bright  shining  of  a  candle  doth 
give  thee  light.     (Luke  11  :;58-8().) 

Hut  if  their  theory  is  true,  tluMi  we  might  say: 

The  evolutionist  'kin. 

In  furosis  hath  been  ; 

The  lu'xt  step  i?i  life's  scale, 

P'ound  him  with  a  tail  ; 

After  ]iassing  through  a  higher  shop. 

He  traveled  by  the  hop. 

In  the  woods  awhile, 

With  the  monkies  he  did  file; 


/ 


'^''o 


lis.  TTTE  STO"nY  OF  CKEATION. 

Tlien  ))>'  a  ii]ight\'  slriilc, 

He  laid  all  tlie  laws  of  heredity  aside; 

And  at  a  single  bound, 

Broke  all  The  laws  of  spet^ies  ever  found; 

For  the  next  step  in  life's  span. 

Made  him  a  man. 

From  instinct  to  reason  brought. 

Sufficient  to  span  the  world  at  a  thought 

Which  long  did  <  ver  the  oceans  ride, 

Then  the  forked  lisfhtning  did  stride — 

With  im.<gination  unbereft — 

All  the  roalms  of  nature  swept. 

From  ins! in. 't  of  tiny  fowl. 

To  a  mental  mold, 

Which  can  aiiuivprse  hold. 

And  writ-o  !u>r  histoi-y  oi!  a  scroll. 

Xow  let  lis  se*.' : 

With  what  human  <'X]jeriH..(te 

Does  such  a  thiii'/  airree? 


CHAITKU  XIX. 


Some  writers  say  that  Aristotle  was  the  first  to  discover,  oral  least 
to  recognize  disiinctly,  imagination,  memory  and  recollection  in  man- 
kind. Certainly  tliose  Avho  say  so  never  read  the  Bible.  Those  fac- 
ulties— their  uses  and  abxises — are  frequently  mentioned  as  far  back 
as  Exodus  and  Oenesis;  as  far  back  as  the  flood  and  before.  ''Every 
imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  was  only  evil  continually." 
(( 're n.  (5  :.'>).  "The  Imagination  of  nuin's  heart  is  only  evil  from  his 
youth.''  ((ien.  S:i?l).  "Remember  the  Sabbath  dav  to  keep  it  liol  .-." 
(Ex.  20:8). 

Xo  law'  could  be  made  etfective  over  men  if  they  had  not  memory. 
Of  course  man  had  memory  and  recollection  at  his  Creation .  A.s 
Dante  says  of  him  in  Ihat  liour,  "O.  fruit  I  that  was  alone  niature, 
when  first  engendered  !  Ancient  father!"  (Par.  Canto  26:89-90  vs.) 
That  is  with  body  and  mind  matured  in  his  Creation,  and  fatiier  of 
all  the  race.  And  the  Lord  gave  him  commandments  that  day. 
(Gen.  1  :28:'JU,  2:ir)17).  If  he  could  not  remember  the  law  r.nd  its 
penalty,  it  could  not  influence  his  conduct.  Therefore  reason,  as  well 
as  the  Bible,  shows  that  mankind  had  these  faculties  from  the  first. 

Even  the  beasts  had  from  t!ie  beginning  some  memory.  If  they 
h.adn't  there  would  be  little  grounds  for  man's  dominion  over  them. 
(Gen.  1  :2()).  After  the  flood  the  Almighty  writ  the  fear  of  maj;.  and 
the  dread  of  man,  in  the  memory  of  all  them.  (Gen.  9:2).  Aiui  we 
see  its  fulflllment  unto  this  day. 

A  horse  has  some  memory.  Carry  him  b:ic!:  where  he  forrnorly 
lived;  as  soon  as  he  sees  the  fork  of  the  roiid  that  leads  to  the  old 
place,  he  will  want  to  take  it.  And  all  animals  show  some  signs  of  it. 

If  they  had  le.'^s  of  inemovy  ihey  could  not  lie  so  conve  lioi^t  'ind  as 
i!.<efiil  t(i  us  ;is  l)i<-,   .M  •('.      .\!i'!    if    Ihev    !i;id    im^re,  thev    .miglit     iv^b'-l 


Tirr   STOP.V  OF  f'T^KATfON.  111). 

ami  use  their  <ir(.';it  svroii^Hi  ;;i;:iinst  us.  It  is  wise  in  the  ('reulur 
llial  they  are  made  as  they  are.  One  never  submits  to  me,  nor  runs 
from  me,  but  I  tliink  of  tliat  ucl  of  the  Creator  whicli  gives  us  histinj? 
dominion  over  them.  Nor  ckies  a  snake  gel  out  of  my  presence,  but 
I  think  of  that,  the  first,  story  even  written  about  them.  ((ien. 
o.-l-lT)).  Surely  tlu  trut.h  of  the  Bible  is  writ  in  all  nature  today. 
Tliey  fulfill  it;  they  all  recognize  man's  supei-iority  to  them.  Kvery 
species  of  them  do — in  obedience  or  flight. 

V.'e  have  a  fine  illustration  of  the  grounds  for  this  superiority  in 
Dai-iel  4  ::>;>-o7.  It  is  founded  in  nature.  Here  we  see  plainly  the 
difl'orence  between  instinct  and  reason.  Fol*  a  purpose  the  Lord 
caused  the  king  to  have  for  seven  ynars  the  ex])erience  of  beasts  and 
of  birds. 

It  was  not  an  ascent,  eit!u>r:  Init  a  descent.  By  (iod's  miraculous 
power  he  was  brought  into  the  estate  of  an  ox.  His  stomach  was  so 
changed  as  to  relish  grass,  and  digest  it  as  nn  ox.  Tlien  by  the  same 
power  he  was  changed  back  as  before.  He  was  the  only  man  that 
evci-  came  from  the  estate  of  beasts.  Not  by  o\i)Jut'.on  thougli.  He 
was  conscious  that  the  understanding  of  a  man  had  left  him,  and 
for  the  time  being  he  exDerienced  tlie  full  j>owe!'sof  beastly  instincts. 
He  coni'esses  that  while  in  that  state  he  hatl  neither  reason  nor 
undei'Standing.  and  that  when  he  w:is  restored  to  man's  v'St;;!.-  liis 
reason  and  under.standing  returned  to  him.  This  case  shows  s.^mi.'  '.<( 
the  diirerences  between  instinct  and  mentality.  He  also  experienced, 
in  part  at  least,  the  life  of  an  eagle.  But  neither  of  these  states  had 
peason  and  understanding.  But  wlien  these  condition..*  passed  from 
iiiui  his  reason  and  understanding  returned  to  him  ;  he  was  conscious 
of  it;  of  his  former  j^ower  of  mind  in  all  things;  the  fact  was  estab- 
lished by  the  examination  he  was  cjin-ied  through  by  the  wise  men  of 
Ids  kingdom;  they  restored  him  to  his  reign.  .Vliile  in  the  beastly 
conditions — as  a  beast,  he  had  as  much  memory  as  they  have — like  a 
lost  soul  in  torment — regretting  those  sins  that  brought  all  these 
misfortunes  upon  him.  For  ihere  memory  goads  the  lost  soul  with 
most  painful  regrets — as  r*sebi.<diadne/.zar  i-emembers  m  that  beastly 
estate  his  lost  opportunities  which  only  intensifies  his  present  suifer- 
ing.s;  so  memory  of  tlie  losses  sustained,  as  well  ;;s  oi'  the  sins  cimi- 
nutled,  is  an  everlasting  tormentor  to  the  ('.'iii.nc(l.  1  believe  tin- 
histi)ry  sustains  the  jiroposition  that  tiiese  sad  misfortunes  were  the 
sanctified  means  of  saving  tins  otherwise  jjroud  heathen  monarvdi. 
(Dan.  ^:r>7). 
■  The  difTerence  Ijetween  luankind  and  I-easts  appears  als<,  in  lids: 
Xo  beast  is  known  to  laugli ;  they  ha\i' a  sense  of  appn^ciat  ion  and 
show  it,  each  in  his  own  peculiar  way.  hut  ncncr  laugli.  It  is  jiccu- 
liar  to  the  human  speides  to  exj^ress  delight  by  laught(>r,  and  the 
deeper  the  laugh,  the  truer  t  he  joy ;  the  more  real  t  lie  friendsliip  of 
the  heart  whence  if  comes,  or  the  truer  that  spirit  which  expresses 
its  delight  in  that  way.  One's  true  self  can  be  seen  in  hisnuinner  of 
laughing;  it  can  be  real  or  oidy  artificial,  ft  is  evidence  of  a  eov;«  y 
ard — or  meanne.ss  of  spirit — to  reprove  another,  or  aa-UU.t;  him,  in 
laughing  ways.  Fai*  mor-  manly  to  do  it  straight,  and  better,  'oo: 
or  let  the  other  enj>i;,   I'lc  ])leasiire.  if  it    is   only   pleasure.     Xatural 


]2(t.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

laughlor  is  close  iikin  to  hoavoii ;  lor  tliere  is  rojoieintj  there;  (iorl 
himself  joys.  Rejoiceth  in  the  haliitable  part  of  the  eartli ;  and 
causeth  it  to  rain  wliere  no  man  dwelletli. 

The  fifth  eliapter  of  ])aniel  furnislies  us  a  procedenee  of  \varnin<:j 
to  all  that  are  in  authority,  and  to  all  others,  against  profanino;  sacred 
thinj^s.  And  shall* we  profane  the  Bible  by  speakinji^,  or  in  any  way 
teacliinj^'  a^^ainst  it,  or  lowering  its  reputation,  or  weakenino;  its  hold 
upon  people?  Or  treating  it  as  though  it  was  no  more  than  those 
that  are  called  profane  or  common  books? 

I  was  impressed  when  a  child  by  tluit  picture  of  King  .Taines, 
when  he  wanted  to  reach  up  higher  for  something,  as  those  natural- 
ists have  said  of  tlie  giraffe ;  however  he  did  not  want  his  neck  nor 
his  arms  to  be  any  longer  in  order  to  reach  it — but  satisfied  with  the 
length  of  his  neck  and  of  his  arms  too,  as  all  real  giraffes  no  doubt 
have  always  been  satisfied  with  the  length  of  their  necks,  however 
much  those  writers  have  disgraced  him,  as  if  he  was  not  satisfied 
with  the  way  he  was  made,  but  wanted  a  longer  neck  to  reach  higher 
— his  servants  offered  him  a  large,  thick  Bible  to  stand  on  so  he  could 
reach  it.  He  refused  that  favor,  liowever  kindly  it  was  offered,  and 
said,  "Ood  forbid  that  I  should  put  under  my  feet  that  which  I 
ought  to  put  in  my  head.'  I  never  see  a  Bible  abused  or  put  to  a 
wrong  use,  but  I  think  of  what  the  wise  and  good  king  said. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


RErEXTLV  I  saw  a  blind  man  kindly  led  by  a  seeing  dog.  Walking 
not  by  sight  nor  reason,  but  by  faith  in  instinct,  guided  by  Provi- 
dence, as  Sir  Isaac  Xewton  is  said  to  have  lielieved  tliat  those 
renuirkable  actions  of  animals  are  guided  ))y  Providence,  which  I 
think  in  many  cases  is  true. 

And  once  T  saw  a  cripple  wheeled  into  market — with  what  his 
hands  had  made — by  two  goats  yoked  together  pushing  his  roller 
chair  from  behind  as  they  had  been  trained  to  do.  When  he  wanted 
them  to  push  more  he  would  strike  them  over  his  shoulder  with  his 
whip,  and  they  would  do  their  best  for  him.  Thus  instinct  often  in 
a  remarkable  manner  serves  reason.  And  the  Bible  is  fulfilled  in  it 
that  far. 

A  provei'b  says  a  liv^  dog  is  better  than  a  dead  lion.  Or  a  common 
man  alive  can  do  more  than  Osesar  dead.  So  a  small  interest  well 
used  is  worth  more  than  a  large  one  that  can't  be  used  to  advaTitage, 
or  lives  only  in  imagination. 

Xow  some  naturalists,  wliile  admiring  the   instinct  of   many   ani 
mats  and  especially  in.sects,  fail  to  give  unto  the  Creator  the  gloi-y 
diu^  unto  His  name  in  His  delicate  work  in  them,  and  try  to  use  it  as 
an  argument  against  the  true  order  of  existence. 

If  it  be  a  fact  that  these  duml)  creatures  are  thankful  to  their 
Creator  and  Benefactor,  and  that  man  ascended  from  them,  then,  in 
case  of  unthankfulness  in  men  the  ancestors  are  greater  than  their 
sons.  For  even  the  frogs  seem  to  be  thankful  when  He  sends  them 
rain  ;  and  the  dog  thanks  his  master  for  all  he  gives  him,  even  for  a 
whipping — when  it  is  over. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  121. 

If  nuui  is  hcasl  ly  derived,  tlicii  Ihe  superior  iiisliiiel  tliat  ouf  ol' 
affection  to  its  owner  saves  u  Initnaii  life  wliere  reason  is  blind  to  tlu^ 
iinj)endin<?  danj^er,  would  show  that  tlie  ancestors  were  wiser  than  are 
their  descendanls:  whereas,  the  evolutionists  claim  that  the  ten- 
dency is  upwards.  In  all  such  cases  their  theory  fails.  But  reason, 
assisted  by  fjiitli,  solves  the  situation — escapes  the  impending  danger. 
P'or  faith  has  an  intuitive  warnin<?  for  a  (rod  fearin^jf  person  that 
saves  life;  when  instinct  and  reason  V)oth  would  fail  to  see  the  dan- 
ger. I  could  give  many  examples  of  the  kind.  And  in  all  those 
cases  where  persons  are  saved  by  instinct  and  atfection  of  animals,  I 
think  it  is  by  Providence  they  are  thus  warned,  and  by  heeding  that 
warning-  He  thus  sends,  are  saved.  Or  after  plunged  into  imminent 
danger — saved  by  an  animal — it  is,  I  tliink.  Providence  that  move-* 
the  animal  by  instict  to  do  it.  I  would  praise  the  Lord  for  it,  as  well 
as  repay  the  animal  all  I  could. 

The  lives  of  two  boys  were  saved  once  by  their  steed  refusing  to 
enter  a  certain  wood  they  had  to  go  through  to  get  home,  which  was 
in  a  few  moments  afterward  destroyed  by  a  cyclone;  which  I  believe 
was  providential.  The  horse  had  an  instinctive  sense  of  the  danger 
from  the  timber  on  either  side  of  the  road  and  was  caused  to  have  a 
sensibility  of  the  nearness  of  the  fearful  storm,  and  but  for  his 
refusal  to  enter  it,  they  no  doubt  would  have  perished,  and  the  horse 
too.  I  give  the  Lord  the  praise  in  all  such  cases,  as  well  as  1  do 
when  there  is  no  animal  in  it,  and  the  warning  comes  directly  to 
liuman  consciousness,  as  is  often  the  case. 

I  heard  of  a  pet  gander  once  that  gave  notice  to  the  family  of  the 
unfortunate  condition  of  his  master — who,  in  his  presence  only,  harl 
been  prostrated  by  a  sti'oke  of  lightning — by  flying  to  the  house  and 
back  to  tlie  barn  where  his  master  was  lying  in  a  state  of  uncon- 
sciousness. All  such  instances  I  regard  as  providential,  but  those 
who  discard  Providence  will  have  to  accept  the  conclusion  that  on 
their  evolutionary  theory  instinct  in  the  ancestors  was  wiser  than 
reason  in  the  higher  ascendants,  as  they  claim,  from  them. 

^^'e  admire  the  prescience  of  the  bf^e  and  the  ant,  the  cunning  of 
the  fox,  the  imitation  of  the  monkey,  but  sometimes  it  is  the  goose 
that  shows  the  superior  instinct,  especially  in  her  migrations  in 
search  of  a  congenial  clime — where  she  finds  lioth  food  and  comfort  — 
thus  avoiding  the  necessity  of  permanent  preparations  for  life.  It  is 
plainly  seen  there  is  no  chain  of  progression,  anyway  or  anywhere, 
from  lowest  to  highest  among  them.  In  anatomy  the  ape  more  re- 
sembles man  than  any  other  animal;  in  domestic  life,  the  cat;  in 
affection,  the  dog;  in  pathology,  the  horse;  while  some  small  ani- 
mals, and  some  insects  as  well,  approach  more  nearly  human  fore- 
sight in  preparing  for  their  future  wants.  Even  insj)irat  ion  draws 
upon  these  small  creatures,  as  the  ant  and  the  cony — daman — (Prov. 
Sit>:2t)),  to  teach  us  prescience  in  making  spiritual  preparation  for  the 
long  hereafter.  But  sonietimes  it  is  the  so-called  silly  goose  that 
excels  them  all  in  atfection  and  in  instinct  too.  TIkmv  is  a  countless 
variety  in  sentient  beings  in  internal  structure,  of  external  form  ami 
beauty,  of  ditferent  degrees  of  natural  sagacity  and  docility,  but  no 
graded  scale  of  being  is  found  in  all  nature.      Xor  do   they   claim    to 


122.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATIOX. 

Iiave  found  it  in  reality:   nor  will  it  Ijc  found. 

(rod'.s  work  is  perfect.  And  tluit  perfection  is  in  everything  after 
it.s  kind.  Tlie  horse  is  as  perfectly  horse,  as  man  is  man.  The  same 
can  be  said  of  every  livin.i,'  creature.  Xor  can  it  be  proved  that  any 
of  them  have  ever  clianged  from  tlie  first  of  sentient  life.  Neither 
can  it  be  shown  tliat  any  new  species  has  been  brou.oht  in.  Some 
of  them  to  make  out  their  chain,  as  they  tliink  it  will  help,  try  to 
endow  their  creatures  with  mental  faculties.  While  others  want  to 
deny  consciousness  to  man.  And  take  them  all  toirether,  it  is  a  sense- 
less babel;   contrary  to  nature,  to  reason  and  to  common  sense. 

And  again,  how  different  while  we  sleep.  "He  giveth  His  beloved 
sleep."  (Ps.  127:2).  "I  will  both  lay  me  down  in  peace  and  sleep: 
For  thou  Lord  only  makest  me  dwell  in  safety.''  (Ps.  -1:8).  "Wliile 
men  slept  an  enemy  did  this.''  (Matt.  18 :2r>-28).  In  some  cases 
?iome  must  watch  while  others  sleep:  watch  for  their  sleeping  com- 
rades. Hence  the  pi-eacher  is  a  watchman  to  wake  up  sleeping  sin- 
ners, lest  they  be  destroyed. 

Nothing  is  more  beautiful  nor  more  affectionate  than  Providence 
watching  over  all  His  creatures  while  they  sleep,  especially  His 
human  kind,  and  waking  them  up  each  successive  morning.  Nothing 
is  more  lovely  than  all  nature  in  sentient  life  in  repose — asleep — yet 
safe  in  His  care — even  the  plants  sleep — but  unsentient  nature  like  a 
mighty  train  moves  on  with  the  hosts  of  her  sleeping  passengers. 

Now  let  us  ask  the  doctors,  do  men  wake  up  automaticallj-  or  prov- 
identiallj^?  Fortunately,  however,  for  us  neither  the  depth,  nor  the 
duration  of  our  sleep,  depends  upon  our  wills.  It  is  evident  if  we 
sleep,  we  sleep  in  His  care.  None  know  the  dangers  that  surround 
tliem,  by  foes  of  their  own  kind,  or  other  living  creatures;  nor  from 
the  elements  of  nature,  as  storms,  electricity,  earthquakes,  or  volca- 
noes. This  of  itself  is  enough  to  show  any  man  of  balanced  reason 
that  a  no  (-reation,  no  Providence  theory  is  a  palpable  fallacy. 

"O,  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  His  wonderful  works." 
(Ps.  107:8-15-21-81).  But  tlie  ingratitude  of  some  men  sinks  them 
below  the  beasts.  In  many  tilings,  that  some  of  them  do,  they  are 
worse  than  beasts.  In  some  tilings,  some  of  them,  are  meaner  than 
a  dog;  one  that  sucks  eggs  and  kills  sheep,  at  that.  Such  as  all  per- 
sons hate;  even  the  darkies,  as  fond  as  they  are  of  dogs,  hate  "em. 

One  day  as  I  passed  one  of  their  homes  a  woman  was  abusing  her 
dog  for,  as  she  said,  sucking  all  of  her  eggs.  She  asked  me  what  is 
good  to  break  them  from  it?  I  said,  I  know  nothing  that  is  good  for 
it,  only  to  kill  'em. 


OHAPTEH  XXI. 


Our  domestic  animals  have  no  sense  of  the  future.  If  a  farmer 
will  let  them  get  to  his  green  corn,  which  he  designs  for  their  winter 
feed,  they  will  eat  or  destroy  it  all,  and  not  leave  a  thing  to  grow  and 
ripen  for  winter  use.     In  this  they  ai'e  as  helpless  as  infants. 

The  bee  and  the  ant  will  work  without  man's  control  and  provide 
their  winter  store.  But  man  c;innot  force  them  to  work  as  he  does 
the  horse  and  the  ox.     Those   that  work  for  man  have  to  be  provided 


THE  STORY  OF  CilKATlOX.  ]'2;{. 

for  by  niuii.  And  lu'i^'in  His  i)rovi(U'iice  is  us  luarkud  as  i(  is  in  tlios(! 
wliicli  by  foresight  provide'  for  Ihoiiiselvcs.  And  He  holds  us  to  the 
hnv  of  compensation  for  those  that  serve  us. 

^fan  is  tlie  tliinker.  He  lias  to  think  and  ])rovide  bet'orohand  for 
his  future  wants,  and  also  for  his  animals,  as  well  as  for  his  family. 
The  word  man,  it  is  said,  means  to  think.  Herein  he  holds  superior- 
ity over  everythinji:  in  this  world.  A  horse,  or  ox,  or  cow,  will  head 
from  the  cold  wind  for  comfort.  AN'hen  they  want  to  ease  themselves, 
tip{  as  not,  will  droj)  their  excrement  in  the  feed  trough.  And  why? 
Kecause  they  don't  think.  But  it  is  inherent  in  the  very  nature  of 
man  to  think  ahead  of  liimself  for  time  and  eternity.  Hence  we  see 
liim  everywhere,  except  in  those  countries  wliere  he  thinks  it  is  not 
necessary,  laying  up  for  the  future  of  this  life  inore  or  ]es.s.  And 
civilized  man  does  it  everywhere.  But  the  higliest  office  of  reason  is 
to  provide  for  our  soul's  wants;  not  only  in  this  life,  but  for  the  life 
which  is  to  follow  this.  For  all  these  interests  man  has  a  happy 
combination  of  instinct,  reason  and  faith.  He  has  mentality  to  pro- 
ject and  hands  to  execute  his  designs;  herein  he  is  far  above  every- 
thing that  moves  upon  the  earth. 

By  application  of  intelligence  to  unfeeling  matter  he  brings  it  into 
his  use,  and  makes  all  life  below  him  subservient  to  his  will.  His 
lordship  luis  ever  stood  out  in  Ijold  relief  in  the  face  of  all  natnri'.  and 
his  royalty,  at  first  guaranteed  to  him  by  His  Maker,  has  ever  been 
j^ure  in  his  line  of  descent  from  the  head  of  his  dynasty.  Yes,  indeed, 
inan  is  moi-e  than  animal.  His  highest  enjoyment  depends  not  upon 
the  gratification  of  his  fleshly  passions,'  but  upon  the  normal  action 
of  both  his  mind  and  heart.  H"  a  man's  mind  is  not  acting  normally 
he  cannot  have  that  connubial  happiness  with  his  wife  he  otherwise 
would  have,  and  it  requires  the  proper  action  of  his  heart  also  to 
bring  it  to  its  highest  enjoyment;  which  is  not  the  case  with  beasts. 
It  is  true  also  with  man  in  every  other  kind  of  enjoyment.  His 
threefold  nature  has  to  be  in  a  normal  condition  in  every  department 
for  him  to  have  his  ])roper  enjoyment  as  a  man.  He  is  two  degrees 
above  evei*y  other  form  of  animal  life,  l)oth  in  projection  and  accom- 
plisliment.  ^^'ith  his  mind  he  projects,  with  his  hands  he  accomplishes. 

Our  animals  will  tight  for  tlieir  young,  but  after  they  wean  them 
they  care  no  more,  ajjparently,  for  them  than  for  others  of  the  same 
kind.  Xor  do  the  young  ones  care  any  more  for  their  dams  than  for 
any  other  beasts  of  the  same  species.  But  with  mankind  it  is  very 
ditierent ;  the  mother  loves  her  infant  very  tenderly,  but  moi'e 
strongly  as  the  y(^ars  come  and  go;  it  is  a  life-long  love;  and  the 
children  love  thcMr  parents,  too,  while  young,  and  with  an  increasing 
love  as  time  creeps  uiKin  thein,  and  long  years  of  separation  by  death 
does  not  efface  it.  In  this  life-long  alfcM'tion  they  approach  the 
Divine  nature  more  nearly,  perhaps,  than  in  anything  else;  for  the 
Lord  loves  with  an  everlasting  love.  Nor  does  love  in  the  human  <lie 
with  the  body,  for  it  belongs  to  the  Spirit  and  is  immortal. 

It  is  but  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  associations  of  heaven 
would  develop  love,  rather  than  lessen  it.  "Love  is  of  (lod."  He 
that  loveth  is  of  (lod.  !f  we  love  our  fellows  here,  it  is  an  evidence 
that  we  love  (iod:   and  if  we  love  Orod.  it   is  evidence   of   our    sonship 


Vl-k.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

Inward  Him.  A  nuin  lias  a  sense  of  all  this  by  nature,  but  by  Ji 
(Miristian  experience  it  becomes  far  more  real  to  him,  and  ^I'ows  upon 
liim  in  proportion  as  he  learns  of  the  Lord,  by  using  the  means  of 
grace. 

Yet  some  of  these  writers  want  to  say  man  has  no  real  will  power 
— a  machine  in  perpetual  motion,  by  necessity,  until  it  breaks  down 
and  can  run  no  longer.  I  have  heard  that  "Collins'  ram  had  a  head 
of  his  own."  So  has  a  stubborn  boy.  And  'I  know  that  a  horse  has 
a  will  of  his  own.  If  your  horse  don't  will  to  eat,  for  instance,  he 
will  not  eat  frtr  all  your  coaxing.  And  the  Bible  says,  "How  much 
better  is  a  man  than  a  beast."  That  is,  of  more  consequence,  is 
higher  in  estimation  and  by  Creation  higher. 

Every  man  knows  that  his  thoughts  are  conceived  in  his  heart,  or 
mind  at  least,  and  may  lead  to  eitlier  good  or  bad  actions  if  followed. 
But  he  knows  he  has  the  power  to  will  to  follow  them  or  not  to  follow 
them.  (Matt.  la:!!)).  He  can  will  to  be  still,  and  be  still;  or  to 
move,  and  move;!.  He  can  will  to  speak,  and  speak;  or  not  to  speak, 
and  keep  silent.  If  the  witness  refuses  to  speak  it  is  punishable  by 
law,  l)ut  if  these  writers  are  correct,  then  he  ought  not  to  be  pun- 
ished. For  according  to  their  theory,  it  was  not  his  choice  to  treat 
the  court  with  contempt,  it  was  only  an  automatic  action  for  which  he 
is  not  responsible.  We  should  not  fall  out  with  a  man,  however,  because 
his  opinion  is  different  from  ours  on  somethings,  but  rather  consider 
that  every  man  is  (rod's  workmanship.  As  the  Apostle  saith  :  "\\'ho 
maketh  thee  to  differ?"  (1  Cor.  4:7).  What  do  we  know  of  His  hid- 
den purpose  in  every  worker?  Every  honest  worker  is  in  some  way 
God's  servant,  and  a  servant  of  mankind.  AN'hether  in  the  broad 
fields  of  Christian  thought  and  action,  or  in  the  arena  of  philosophy 
and  science,  he  can  serve  God  and  be  helpful  to  his  fellow  beings. 

In  the  common  name  of  (!hristianity  we  have  Romanism,  Luther- 
ism,  Episcopalianism,  Presbyterianism,  Methodistism,  BaptituiL  and 
yet  others,  but  all  the  honest  ones  are  equally  the  servants  of  Christ 
and  of  mankind.  Doubtless,  it  is  best  for  Christianity  to  have  her 
division-=-unity  in  variety — which  is  more  like  His  work  in  everything 
else.  Good  people  often  deplore  it,  yet  it  continues;  He  luust  see 
that  it  is  best,  especially  while  it  is  impossible  but  that  offences  will 
come.  (Luke  17:1).  The  peaceable  division  is  as  a  safety  valve,  for 
the  time  being,  under  existing  circumstances. 

St.  Paul  teaches  us  that  we  should  not  blame  one  another  for  it, 
unless,  there  is  a  wrong  spirit  controlling  in  it.  So  it  is  in  govern- 
ment. So  it  is  in  philosophy,  science  and  all  branches  of  human 
thought  and  work.  There  is  only  one  human  race.  There  is  only 
one  species  in  that  one  race.  There  is  only  one  religion  for  that  race. 
That  which  was  handed  down  from  the  Father  of  all,  for  the  good  of 
all.  Christianity  is  that  true  religion.  AVhile  like  the  race  it  is 
designed  for,  having  many  divisions  among  those  who  belong  to  her; 
yet  like  the  human  race,  she  is  united  in  the  only  one  species. 

The  race  is  essentially  one.  So  is  that  religion  given  for  its  salva- 
tion. God  is  one.  Nature  is  one.  Religion  is  one.  There  is  no 
religion  but  that  which  is  authorized  in  the  Bible.  (1  Cor.  8 : 4-6). 
Kvery  person  that  is  a  Christian  in  iieart  and   life   will    be   saved   in 


^ 


/   \ 


TlIK  STORY  OF  OREATIOX.  ]2.'j. 

spite  of  whalovor  naiiu'  may  be  iitlachod  lo  one.  From  llie  <,'iant  to 
the  dwarf,  from  the  Caucasian  to  the  Hottentot,  every  one  that  is 
normal  possesses  all  the  eliaraeteristics  peculiar  to  the  human  race. 
To  tlie  jifeneral  race  of  man  in  its  unity  of  species,  as  the  Bible  saj's. 
"He  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations,"  and  for  tliis  purpose,  that 
they  might  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth.  And  He  so  commanded. 
His  will,  then,  is  that  this  one  race  siiould  cover  this  one  earth  ;  and 
this  one  religion  is  for  the  whole  world.  The  time  for  the  coming  of 
each  nation  upon  the  tlieatre  of  action  was  prepared,  and  its  limits 
predetermined.  That  they  should  seek  the  Lord,  find  IJim,  and  serve 
Him.     (Acts  17:2()-27).     Tliat  is  the  highest  mission. 

When  our  Savior  chose  His  twelve  apostles  we  would  suppose  He 
had  reference  to  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  Yet  He  maj'  have  had  a 
broader  view  in  His  mind.  He  may  have  had  also  a  reference  to  the 
twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac.  As  He  was  a  light  to  the  (lentile  nations 
as  well  as  to  His  people  Israel ;  so  should  Christianity  lighten  all  the 
nations  of  earth  :  and  shine  as  long  as  the  circle|  of  the  s'kies  should 
endure. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


It  seems  that  the  higher  critics  "went  about  to  kill"  .Moses;  and 
for  a  pretext  they  fried  to  kill  Homer,  too.  They  didn't  have  any- 
thing against  Homer,  however;  but  as  he  had  the  misfortune  to  be 
old,  they  thought  it  would  give  them  an  excuse  to  strike  Moses,  who 
was  much  older.  The  objection  t'liey  liad  to  Moses  was  that  he  knew 
too  much  to  suit  them. 

I  suppose  that  is  the  objection  '"this  generation"  has  to  the  old 
men  of  this  time.  It  is  said  that  they  now  relegate  the  old  folks  to 
the  I'ear.  It  seems  to  me  that  that  Is  a  little  bit  heathenish,  for 
tliere  they  kill  'em  straight  out. 

Tiie  ^Mohammedans  to  establish  the  Koran  tried  to  destroy  all  other 
l)ooks.  So  the  higher  critics,  in  order  to  destroy  tlie  Bible,  are  try- 
ing to  destroy  all  ancient  literature. 

Shakspeare  says.  "He  who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash,  'Twas  mine, 
'Tis  His.  "Tis  something,  'Tis  nothing,  Has  served  many,  but  he  who 
pilfers  my  good  name  robs  me  of  that  which  enriches  not-  him  But 
leaves  me  poor  indeed."  So,  if  they  could  succeed,  they  would  not 
enrich  themselves,  but  leave  tlie  world  poor  indeed.  Surely  it  is  an 
unenviable  work.  But  tliey  will  not  succeed,  unless,  it  is  in  di'stroy- 
ing  themselves. 

For  the  most  part  tliey  have  got  tiieir  breml  and  meat  from  Bible 
influences,  and  now,  having  grown  fat  and  stolid,  tlu'y  show  their 
tlianks  by  turning  their  heels  against  it,  and  are  fuKilllng  the  words 
of  Mosesin  it,  (Deut.  iV2:lb).  "But  Jesluirun  waxed  fat  and  kicked: 
thou  art  waxen  fat,  thou  art  grown  thick,  thou  art  covered  with  fat- 
ness; then  he  forsook  (lod  which  made  him,  and  liglitly  esteemed 
the  Rock  of  his  salvation."     Indeed,  consistency  is  a  jewel. 

Christianity  fostered  education,  and  through  her  Influence  they 
got  a  chance  at  learning,  but  either  forgot  or  neglected  to  apply  what 
a  certain  poet  has  said  :      "A    little    learning   is   a    dangerous   thing; 


126.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

J)i-ink  deep,  oi-  taste  not  the  Pierian  spring."  Xow  they  show  their 
thanks  to  lier;  and  prove  it  to  be  a  fact,  if  the  building  is  wider  than 
the  foundation  it  will  be  unsteady.  It  would  have  been  well  to  have 
observed  that  caution  given  by  the  greatest  of  Teachers.  (]Matt. 
7:24-29.) 

Lord  JSlacauly  in  his  criticisms  on  the  poets  seems  to  incline  to  the 
opinion  that  it  requires  a  certain  amount  of  mental  unsoundness  to 
make  a  good  poet.  I  think,  however,  it  takes  both  ripeness  and  mel- 
lowness to  make  a  good  poet.  Oenuine  poetry,  I  believe,  springs  out 
of  the  mellowness  of  ripened  human  nature.  Our  critic  goes  on  to 
saj'  that  Honjer  was  the  greatest  and  the  truest  of  all  poets  up  to, 
that  time.  It  .seems,  though,  that  the  Higher  Critics  are  willing  to 
sacrifice  him  if  they  can  only  get  a  lick  at  Moses. 

Xature  did  her  ])est  work  in  Homer.  It  took  her  a  long  while  after 
to  produce  Milton,  Shakspeare  and  Goethe.  But  ever  and  anon  she 
is  at  her  highest,  then  on  her  ordinary  level  for  Icwig  periods  of  time. 

Of  late,  however,  the  Higher  Critics  in  their  anxiety  to  destroy  the 
Bible,  have  lost  sight  of  everything  else  and  devoted  all  to  that. 
Like  bots  in  a  horse's  stomach,  they  have  let  go  everything  else  and 
have  gone  to  gnawing  the  mare  that  has  supported  them  ever  since 
they  were  hatched,  and  without  which  they  couldn't  live. 

I  find  in  studying  the  Bible  the  thing  that  puzzled  the  inspired 
writers  most  was  the  fact  that  the  Lord  often  suffered  the  wicked  to 
destroy  the  I'ighteous.  And  of  all,  it  has  been  the  most  puz/.ling  to 
me;  yet  as  much  so  as  it  has  been,  it  is  a  high  proof  of  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  Bilile,  for  no  man  would- make  a  Bible  and  put  that  in  it 
of  himself;  for  he  would  not  see  any  justice  in  it,  nor  could  t>f«+ltf  he 
see  the  wisdom  in  permitting  it  to  be.  The  thought  of  it  is  alto- 
gether foreign  to  the  natural  ideas  of  mankind. 

Men  have  always  believed  in  inspiration  from  some  su])erhuman 
source.  The  Hebrew  depended  upon  the  Almiglity,  and  the  Gentile 
upon  some  imaginary  god.  Hence  all  of  their  poets,  orators,  philos- 
ophers and  artists  waited  for  their  muses  to  bring  the  happy  spells 
of  genius  upon  them.  And  those  so-called  skeptical  winters  of  mod- 
ern times  believe  in  an  undefined  something  they  call  fate.  But  there 
is  no  real  inspiration  or  revelafion  superhuman  but  of  God.  Xor  is 
there  any  fate  but  the  working  of  His  providence,  either  directly,  or 
by  laws  of  retribution  punishing  wrong  doing,  or  rewarding  virtue  in 
her  various  fields  of  endeavor,  or  of  patient  suffering  for  His  sake. 
Therefore  the  universal  belief  of  the  heathen,  as  well  as  of  the  Chris- 
tian, is  in  proof  of  that  guiding  Providence  that  has  ever  boon  in  the 
human  race,  which  seeing  results  long  before  their  inciplency  in  a 
well  ordered  chain  of  events — unseen  by  man  and  above  his  control — 
yet  surely  works  them  out. 

Whence  came  this  uiiiversal  I^elief  in  inspiration?  From  the  fact 
that  it  was  once  common  .in  liic  line  of  true  religion.  And  those 
heathens,- though  fallen  away  from  it,  carried  with  them  some  frag- 
ments of  origijial  truth  and  faith.  (Acts  11:12).  Here  these  heathens 
l)olieved  that  Paul  and  Barnabas  were  Inspired  of  the  gods.  Their 
poets  and  philosophers  believed  in  inspiration. 

It  was  coinnionly  believed  that  Adam  had  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and 


TTTK  STORY  OF  ORKATION.  127. 

ovory  j^Tt'iit  ]):iU'i;in'ii  on  down  to  ^oali,  Slicni,  Abraham,  Isaac  and 
Jacob;  hence  they  eao-erly  sou<^ht  the  patriarchal  blessing,  as  is 
shown  in  (xenesis  twenty-sevent  li  and  forty -ninth  cliapters.  After 
the  great  patriarchs  Joseph  and  Jol)  passed  away,  we  have  no  account 
of  it  until  the  Lord  raised  up  Moses.  After  .Moses  the  patriarchal  sys- 
tem of  inspired  teacliing  received  new  lielps  in  Ihe  fuller  system  then 
established. 

8t.  John  says,  "the  light  shinelh  in  the  darkness."  (1  :.")).  It  was 
then  shining  in  the  darkness  of  the  heathen  world,  but  the  Iieathen 
then,  as  afore,  comprehended  it  not,  for  their  foolish  hearts  were 
darkened  by  sin,  the  devil  and  idolatry.  The  Revised  Version  saj's, 
"the  darkness  apprehended  it  not,"  and  in  the  margin  says,  '''over- 
come," that  is  it  shone  on  in  spite  of  the  darkness.  And  so  it  did 
all  through  the  ages.  The  true  light — Christ — in  all  the  dispensa- 
tions, from  the  first  promise  made  to  Adam  in  the  garden,  shone  on 
through  all  the  successive  generations,  but  they  knew  it  not,  for  the 
devil  blinded  them  and  led  them  to  ascribe  it  to  nature,  the  fixed 
laws  of  the  universe,  or  to  the  ^ods  of  fate.  The  main  beam  shone 
through  Closes  and  the  prophets,  but  there  were  lesser  rays  shining 
tlirough  all  the  mental  and  moral  spheres  of  mankind,  from  that  rev- 
elation which  the  Creator  made  of  Himself  to  Adam  and  all  the 
patriarchs  on  down  to  the  time  of  Moses. 

The  Jews  held  tenaciously  to  the  doctrine  of  the  inspiration  of  the 
Scriptures.  The  Christians  also  did  ;  our  Savior  taught  it;  and  the 
Christians  have  held  all  along  to  the  plenary  inspiration  of  the  New 
Testament  as  wellas  of  the  Old. 

There  are  many  evidences  of  the  Divine  inspiration  of  Moses,  or 
that  God  comjnanded  him  to  do  and  teach  what  he  did.  I  do  not 
propose,  however,  to  mention  them  all.  As  a  legislator  he  has  never 
been  equaled,  except  by  the  One  law  giver.  (James  4:12).  Nor  has 
he  ever  been  equaled  as  a  statesman ;  nor  lias  the  government  he 
founded  ever  been  excelled.  f 

As  on  his  way  immediately  to  the  land  of  promise  he  tarries  at 
Sinai  a  long  while  to  prepare  the  people  for  nationality.  Here  the 
Hebrew  nation  was  founded.  It  was  a  united  states  of  twelve  com- 
monwealths, or  twelve  local  governments  under  one  general  govern- 
ment. Each  local  government  was  patriarchal,  while,  too,  the  general 
gov(M"nment  was  adminislered  bv  a  patriarch  chosen  of  (rod,  as  was 
Moses. 

^^'ithin  Ibis  civil  government  was  a  religious  governiuent,  having 
its  head  in  the  high  priest  "called  of  (lod  as  was  Aaron,"  but  extend- 
ing through  all  the  tribes,  so  every  person  was  in  as  easy  reach  of  its 
benefits  as  of  the  civil  government;  and  his  splendid  legislation  reg- 
ulated first  of  all  religious  matters,  (^Matt.  (5  :;]Ei),  embodying  in 
that  well  regulated  system  all  th.at  had  been  revealed  and  taugiitand 
practiced  from  Creation,  adding  much  more. 

Everyth.ing  appertaining  to  the  goverment  of  each  tribe,  with  its 
military  system,  was  regulated  before  leaving  the  sacred  mount,  and 
the  peo])Ie  drilled  for  their  military,  civil  and  religious  services — in 
all  matters  while  there.  Their  marches  and  campings  from  there  all 
the  way  to  ("anajsn   were  ai'ter  the    most    perfect    military   system — 


128.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

which  it  Avas.  The  census  of  each  tribe  liacl  been  taken  at  Mount 
Sinai,  and  all  men  within  the  prescribed  linriits  for  militia  duty  were 
enrolled  and  officered  perfectly  for  service — when  needed  for  defence. 
If  that  splendid  tabernacle  was  a  type  of  the  universe  when  the 
tribes  were  encamped  around  it  with  their  standards,  (Num.  2  ch.), 
the  fijjaii'e  was  more  complete.  They  cauffht  the  idea  and  named,  it 
is  said,  the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac  after  their  twelve  tribes.  It 
was  only  local,  however,  as  they  were  never  adopted  by  the  inspired 
writers.     (Amos  5:8). 

The  sanitary'  reo'ulations  of  their  armies  were  the  best  ever  adopted. 
No  more  sickness  was  ever  found  in  any — not  even  in  their  longest  cam- 
paigns— than  would  have  occurred  if  they  had  all  been  at  their 
homes.  The  main  point  in  it  all  was  the  fact  that  every  soldier  was 
required  by  law  to  be  as  nice  as  a  cat.  (Dent.  23  :12-14).  If  all  modern 
armies  were  to  adopt  that  rule,  no  doubt  but  much  sickness  would 
be  prevented.  It  is  strange  if  Moses  was  not  inspired  of  God  to  do 
and  teach  what  he  did,  that  the  world  has  never  yet  become  so  wise 
as  he  was  then.  He  was  commanded  to  teach  what  he  taught  and  do 
what  he  did  ;  it  is  clear. 

The  order  of  the  priesthood  was  a  very  wise  piece  of  statesmanship, 
for  the  good  of  all.  No  man  was  to  enter  it  but  those  that  were 
chosen  of  (xod,  and  prepared  by  nature  or  providence  for  the  place. 
He  had,  also,  to  be  trained  in  learning  and  practical  experience 
before  he  ent(4red  into  that  high  and  sacred  office;  had  to  have  the 
efficiency  of  thirty  years  of  age,  then  holy  consecration  to  his  work. 
Received  a  competent  support;  was  retired  at  the  age  of  fifty  years; 
but  received  tlie  same  full  support  as  long  as  he  lived  agreeai>le  to 
his  holy  calling,  which  gave  the  priesthood  a  tine  opportunity  for 
scholarship  all  their  life  time;  whicli  was  a  great  means  of  promot- 
ing and  sustaining  learning  throughout  the  whole  nation.  This  cer- 
tainly was  of  (rod. 

i\Ioses  was  limited«to  Egypt  for  the  first  forty  years  of  his  life,  the 
next  to  Midian,  and  the  last  to  Israel  in  the  wilderness;  now,  of 
course,  his  opportunities  for  studying  natural  history  were  necessa- 
rily quite  limited.  Then  it  must  have  been  the  Divine  knowledge  of 
this  branch  of  learning  in  all  those  particular  features  and  habits  of 
animals  and  fowls  allowed  by  law  to  be  eaten  or  rejected  as  those 
features  and  habits  prevailed  in  them,  which  enabled  the  pious  to 
choose  between  clean  and  unclean.  (Lev.  11th  chap.)  Moses  had  not 
had  this  knowledge  of  beasts,  birds  and  fishes  of  himself,  it  was  of  the 
Lord.  Let  any  man  read  that  chapter  and  use  his  thoughts  and  he 
will  see  there  is  not  a  man  on  earth,  nor  ever  was,  that  of  himself 
would  conceive  of  such  a  law  as  that.  Yet  it  is  a  very  wise  law  ;  it 
was  to  teach  them  and  to  wean  them  from  all  forms  of  idolatry  and 
other  sins  and  to  be  holy  in  their  lives. 

Then  again,  Moses  of  himself,  nor  any  other  man,  could  have — 
without  a  war — delivered  Israel  from  the  Egyptians  at  that  lime. 
Neither  did  he  excite  them  by  oratory  to  follow  him.  It  was  plainly 
seen  both  by  the  Hebrews  and  the  Egyptians  that  it  was  the  power 
of  Grod,  as  all  admitted.  No  man  could  have  provided  for  the  multi- 
tude in  that  wilderness  for  forty  years  without  producing  crops  or 


THE  STORY  OF  nilKATK^X.  129. 

Jiavins;  coi-mnoive  with  olhiT  i^eopk".  Yei  il  is  an  iiiulispnf oil  i'acl 
thai  it  was  done.  Ololhod  and  slind  without  I'oinnicrcc  or  honic  nian- 
ufaetures,  and  fed  without  a.^'i-icull  ui-e  or  indi<^'(Mious  nature,  but  on 
l)read  provided  in  t  hi' almosijlierc  evei-y  ni.i>-litand  birds  from  nature's 
wilfl  and  vast  store  as  the  people  hi!<l  need. 

Xo  man.  not  even  I^^osos,  could  lia\'e  held  llial  jjeojile  lou'ether  as 
they  were  for  forty  years  in  t  lu^  deserl.  They,  or  any  other  people, 
if  the  Lord  had  not  l)een  anioni;-  Ihem,  umU^r  the  eireumstanees, 
would  liave  broken  raid>;s  and  joined  oi-  have  n'one  to  other  people 
near  them,  a:ot'  liomes  and  settletl  down  to  husim^ss. 

Xo  power  hut  the  Divine  could  have  done  it.  And  it  was  a  ^-reat 
strain,  so  to  speak,  upon  the^Divine  patience  to  do  it,  as  the  history 
shows.  Xor  could  Divine  love,  mercy  and  goodness  have  succeeded 
in  it,  hut  for  the  enforcemenl  of  the  penalties  of  broken  laws  against 
thos(^  who  attempted  rebelion. 

Again  and  again  the}'  threatened  revolui  ion,  1iut  could  not  gel  away 
from  that  miraculous  power  that  delivered  and  sustained  them  and 
held  them  together.  They  were  supported  by  it,  (h^fended  by  it, 
kejjt  by  it;  nor  could  thej'  escape  from  it,  it  was  to  follow  or  die  in 
the  wilderness.  There  was  no  alternative,  and  the  power  and  pur- 
pose \  of  God  seen  in  it  all. 

Xor  can  theliistory  be  truly  writlen  without  the  Divine  that  runs 
all  tlirough  it,  and  as  history,  it  is  admitted  outside  the  Bible  by  all 
who  have  written  on  those  times;  and  it  all  occurred  so  close  to  what 
arc  called  historic  times  that  the  facts  are  within  easy  reach  of  all 
students  of  history. 

The  facts  of  the  famous  Exodus  are  woven  into  all  the  national 
liistorles  of  those  times,  and  they  are  found  in  all  the  sacred  histories 
of  the  Hebrews — furnish  grounds  for  some  of  their  sublimest  Psalms, 
and  prophetic  promises  and  warnings,  and  are  of  frequent  mention  in 
the  Xew  Testament. 

Even  if  it  were  a  fact  that  much  of  the  first  five  books  were  writ- 
ten by  the  learned  priests,  rather  than  by  Moses  himself,  the  truth 
of  its  inspiration,  its  revelation  from  God,  cannot  be  disproved. 

If  the  book  of  Joshua  should  have  been  arranged  in  the  same  way, 
it  is  just  as  true  a  histoi'y,  and  as  truly  inspired  as  if  Joshua  had 
written  it  himself.  So  it  would  be  in  case  of  the  book  of  Judges  and 
all  the  historical  I)ooks.  So,  too,  in  regard  to  the  poetical  and  the 
prophetic.  The  truth  of  history  in  them  is  established,  and  their 
inspiration  also.  Tlieir  prophecies  declared  and  fulfilled  show  that 
they  were  inspired ;  so  do  the  miracles  wrought  bj^  them  ;  so  do  the 
Divine  threats  made  by  theiu  wherever  fulfilled,  imless  repentance 
held  up  the  strike.  And  every  ]:)romise  when  ful tilled  in  the  pi-es- 
ent  time,  or  near  or  distant  future,  ]:)roves  its  own  inspiration  from 
(rod. 

The  Jews  all  along  down  through  the  ages  never  doubted  the  inspi- 
ration of  Moses.  Xone  of  the  good  nor  the  bad  ever  called  it  in 
question.  The  evangelist  represents  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  as 
saying,  "we  know  that  God  spake  imto  Moses."  (John  9:29).  They 
had  access  to  all  the  records  on  the  subject  from  the  very  first  and 
wove  prepared  to  judge  of    the  claims   for  his   ins])irat  ion  ;    and  with 


180.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

equal  tenacity  did  they  hold  to  the  inspiration  of  the  prophets.  (John 
5:89-45,  Luke  1(5:29-81).  And  so  do  they  unto  this  day.  As  do  the 
Christians  of  Jew  and  (Tentile  race  believe  in  both  Testaments  today. 


OPIAPTER  XXIIl. 

As  far  back  as  our  information  jj^oes,  outside  of  the  Bible,  we  find 
mankind  believing  in  inspiration  from  supernatural  sources.  Hence, 
the  heathens  had  their  oracles,  muses  and  war  gods,  and  a  god  for 
everything.  Poetry,  oratory,  music,  painting  and  every  art  was  made 
dependent  upon  inspiration. 

There  was  no  doubt  true  inspiration  in  the  line  of  the  gi'eat  and 
holy  patriarchs  from  Adam  on  down  to  Moses.  And  all  the  tribes  of 
men  before  the  days  of  Moses  held  to  this  universal  idea  in  the 
human  heart  and  mind. 

From  the  days  of  Moses  it  was  perfectly  established  before  the 
eyes  of  all  the  Israelites,  and  never  questioned  among  them. 

I  understand  inspiration  to  mean  in  the  Bible  that  the  Holy  Spirit, 
of  Cod  had  hold  of  the  composer's  mind  and  spirit,  so  he  could  not 
rest  if  he  did  not  put  it  down  in  that  way.  He  knew  that  it  would 
grieve  the  Spirit  for  him  to  state  it  otherwise;  that  it  would  be  a  sin 
to  write  it  contrary  to  that. 

In  1  Cor.  7:25  St.  Paul  says,  "Now  concerning  virgins  I  have  no 
commandment  of  the  Lord."  "Yet  I  give  my  judgment  as  one  that 
hath  obtained  mercy  of  the  Lord  to  be  faithful."  His  judgment  was 
of  great  weight  in  that,  but  he  did  not  give  it  as  inspiration.  He 
was  cautious  on  that. 

The  inference  is  that  in  all  his  other  epistles,  and  in  all  the  rest  of 
this,  he  was  commanded  of  the  Lord  to  write  all  that  he  did  write. 
That  is  the  sauie  authority  that  Moses  and  the  prophets  had. 

AMien  St.  John  wrote  the  Apocalypse  he  says  he  was  commanded 
of  Christ  to  write  all  that  he  did  write,  and  that  some  things  were 
seen  and  heard  of  him  that  he  was  forbidden  to  write.  Both  Daniel 
and  Paul  were  commanded,  like  John,  not  to  wi'ite  or  tell  all  they 
saw  and  lieard.     Impostors  always  tell  more  than  see  or  hear. 

Neither  did  our  Savior  tell  all  to  the  apostles;  because  they  eoiild 
not  bear  it  at  that  time.  (John  16  :r2.)  And  no  doubt  but  every  one 
that  is  called  of  Christ  as  one  of  His  workers,  has  some  experiences 
with  the  Master  that  are  so  precious  he  keeps  them  to  himself.  For 
he  fears,  perhaps,  others  would  doubt  them. 

St.  Peter  teaches  tliat  the  holy  prophets  of  old  spake,  being  moved 
by  the  Holy  (xhost.  (2  Pet.  1 :21).  Tiiey  knew  when  that  movement 
was  upon  them,  and  under  it  they  spake  as  Christ  commanded  the 
apostles  to  do  under  similar  circun)stances,  more  than  had  been 
given  them  ])efore,  but  the  testimony  of  the  propliets  from  Moses  on 
down,  is  that  they  wrote  only  what  they  knew  the  Lord  had  com- 
manded them  to  write.  Nor  does  St.  Peter  say  anything  to  the  (con- 
trary. The  personal  statements  of  the  prophets,  together  with  Moses, 
are  that  they  wrote  by  commandment  from  the  Lord.   So  all  of  those 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  J-'M. 

scriptures  tire  revelations  direct  from  (iod — verbally  ji;iven — written 
hy  imperative  command. 

St.  Peter  ranks  all  of  St.  I'aiil's  epistles  with  the  other  Scriptures. 
(2  Pet.  ;>:16).  And  St.  Paul  says  all  Scripture  is  given  by  inspira- 
tion of  God,  (2  Tim.  8:36);  tlien,  if  it  is  not  so  given,  it  is  not  Scrip- 
ture. But  he  does  not  Stat (>  in  tliis  that  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
like  himself,  were  not  commanded  ;  for  he  knew  that  their  testimony 
was  that  they  were  commanded  of  (xod  to  write  what  they  wrote. 
The  apostles  and  evangelists,  like  the  prophets,  knew  (Iod;  and  they 
all,  also,  knew  the  voice  of  (Iod.  (1  Sam.  8:1-10).  ^Nlany  references 
might  be  given  where  they  were  addressed  of  the  Lord.  2  Kings 
-1 :27  shows  how  near  the  Lord  was  to  them.  They  were  too  familiar 
with  the  voice  of  the  Lord  to  be  mistaken  ;  they  knew  it  was  the 
Lord  that  spake  to  them.  Hence  they  had  a  thus  saith  the  Lord. 
It  was  not  false,  but  true.  It  was  often  put  to  an  immediate  test  by 
the  j)eople  and  their  rulers;  if  found  to  be  false  prophets  they  were 
punished. 

Our  Savior  always  recognized  the  law  and  the  prophets  as  the 
Scriptures,  (Matt.  5 :17-39).  In  His  references  and  quotations  He 
considered  it  all  as  the  Word  of  God.  He  upbraided  those  who  were 
slow  of  heart  to  believe  all  the  prophets  wrote.  (Luke  24:25-27).  It 
is  His  will  and  good  pleasure  then,  that  we  belive  all  that  Moses  and 
the  prophets  have  written. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  historical  facts  are  not  revelations.  But 
the  historical  books  of  Scripture  are  inspired  in  this  way:  As  the 
four  Gospels  were  written  from  personal  knowledge  ;  yet  C'hrist  pi'om- 
ised  them  the  Spirit  to  bring  all  things  to  their  remembrance  what- 
ever He  had  said  unto  them  ;  which  He  did  in  their  personal  teach- 
ing, preaching  and  writing.  And  it  w^as  His  real  guidance  that 
crystalized  them  in  all  their  superb  beauty  and  lasting  usefulness  as 
unto  this  day.  In  this  inspiration  has  a  different  office  to  fill  from 
that  in  revelation,  and  humanly  speaking  more  difficult.  For  in  the 
first  she  has  only  to  write  down  what  has  been  given,  as  given;  but 
in  the  second  she  has  to  arrange  the  matter  and  the  expression  of 
every  fact  so  as  to  have  the  best  elTect. 

To  the  apostles  and  evangelists  the  promise  of  the  Spirit's  guid- 
ance was  remarkably  fulfilled,  in  the  fact  that  after  thirty  or  forty 
years  had  passed,  they  could  repeat  verbatim  all  that  is  written  in 
the  four  gospels  and  more,  but  the  Spirit  so  controlled  the  work  that 
they  did  not  write  all  that  Jesus  did  or  said.  (John  21:25).  And 
altogether,  they  constitute  the  most  unique  life  that  was  ever  writ- 
ten ;  the  most  wonderful,  most  powerful,  most  useful,  most  comfort- 
ing and  the  most  lasting.  The  Holy  Spirit  evidently  guided  the 
writers  in  arranging  the  facts,  and  incidents,  and  teachings  of  Ohrist 
as  they  have  remained  unto  this  day.  If  any  man  thinks  they  might 
have  been  better  arranged,  let  him  think  again,  no  other  books  have 
liad  half  .so  good  effect  upon  human  hearts  and  lives  as  they  have  had, 
and  that,  as  they  are.  No  human  genius  could  have  made  them  so 
good,  so  useful  as  they  have  l)een.  yet  are,  and  shall  be  on  and  on 
unto  the  end  of  the  world. 

Just  so  with  regard  to  the  historical  part  of  the  Old  Testament.   It 


i;}2.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

is  iii.spired  in  the  same  way  as  was  tlie  liistorieal  pari  of  the  Now 
Testament.  The  work  in  neither  conld  not  have  heen  done  so  as  to 
liave  had  better  effect. 

David  and  tlie  other  Psalmists  were  in  His  Jiand  wlien  tliey  did 
their  happy,  holy  work  Avhich  has  eonio  down  to  us  in  His  perfeet 
Book.  Just  so  with  the  writers  of  the  Proverbs,  Ecelesiastes  and  Jol). 

Compare  the  inspired  books  of  tlie  Old  Testament  with  the  apocry- 
phal;  and  the  books  of  the  New  Testament  with  the  writings  of  the 
apostolic  fathers  and  the  style  of  expression,  and  range,  and  charac- 
ter, of  thought,  is  far  superior  in  the  canonical  to  the  others,  and 
they  hold  the  superiority  in  comparison  with  the  very  best  of  all 
modern  books. 

I  have  sometimes  seen  in  a  real  good  article  in  a  leading  newspaper 
a  very  gem  sparkling  in  its  surroundings,  and  have  thought,  I've 
seen  that  before;  why,  it  is  taken  from  the  Bible,  it  is  the  very  lan- 
guage of  the  Bible,  But  it  is  tlie  more  striking  here  because  it  is  in 
less  brilliant  surroundings  than  in  the  Bible. 

We  learn  to  appreciate  things  by  comparison.  One-  may  think 
that  some  thing  is  very  pretty,  but  if  it  is  compared  with  others  of 
its  kind  its  real  beauty  is  more  cleai-ly  seen.  A  man  don't  know  how 
])retty  his  wife  is  until  he  compares  her  with  other  women.  Hen<re 
il  will  pay  him  well  to  carry  her  out  where  there  are  other  ladies — 
especially  to  church. 

AMien  I  wa^  a  youth  my  teacher,  who  was  a  musician  as  well  as  a 
scholar,  said  Old  Hundred  was  a  grand  piece  of  music,  but  I  had  not 
become  capable  of  discerning  its  merits.  Just  so,  in  order  to  appre- 
ciate the  merits  of  the  Bible,  we  have  to  acquire  the  capacity. 

Only  a  few  days  ago  I  was  reading  some  piece.i  from  some  of  the 
best  of  our  j^resent  writers,  and  they  quoted  some  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture which  sjjarkled  like  gems  in  their  compositions  because  they 
were  so  far  superior,  in  thought  and  expression,  to  all  the  rest  of 
theljl  composition. 

In  reading  the  Bible  itself,  those  verses  woukl  not  appear  so  bril- 
liant, because  they  have  to  have  the  background  of  the  uninspired  to 
bring  out  their  superiority  more  strikingly. 

I  have  often  noticed  that  the  lawyers  and  politicians  love  to  quote 
Scripture;   and  they  make  their  best  points,  too,  w^hen  they  do. 

Many  good  compositions  are  ornamented  by  Bible  thoughts  and 
quotations  from  it.  The  best  thoughts  in  all  our  literature,  and  of 
spoken  language,  too,  are  taken  from  the  Bible. 

Nor  do  I  object  to  it,  either.  St.  Paiil  said,  "he  rejoiced  that 
Christ  was  made  known"  although  it  was  indirectly  and  unintention- 
ally. (Phil.  1:18).  ■  And  I  am  glad  that  all  Christian  nations  have 
greatly  enriched  their  literature  witli  Bible  ideas  and  quotations  from 
it.  And  further,  it  furnishes  the  foundation  for  all  their  penal  laws. 
As  a  justice  said  when  he  was  converted,  in  life's  prime,  "I  am  sur- 
prised at  myself;  I've  been  neglecting  the  best  of  books  all  my  life; 
why  the  Bible  is  the  foundation  of  all  our  laws."  I  am  thankful  that 
its  sentiments  are  inwrought  in  the  constitutions  and  laws,  politics 
and  social  life  of  all  Christendom  today. 

After  Christ  ascencU^d  the  apostles    lU'ver  attempted   to  perform   a 


THK  STORY  OF  OREATTOX.  ]; 


IVCMl 


iiurarJewilhoiii  hri,,-  conscious  Ihnl  llic  Spirit  lia.l  alroad.v  -.vr. 
them  an  mwanl  eoinniandinoiif  lo  do  it  ;  niid  saw.  too  tliat  tlu'siib- 
ject  Jiad  faith  to  recoivo  it.    (Acts.  ItrU-lO).    Tliat  kind  and  degree  of 

1  o    ,     '"    ^"^^     ^'^''  *^"^'^"  '^'"'  i"<"<^'<'i\''''"-  i-^  IHiivlv  a  u'ift   of  (^od.     (1  Cor. 
lJ:S-9).      (riven  for  a  purpose. 

So  inspiration  for  the  poetJcal  and  historical  wrilin-s  of  tlic  J]ibh> 
was  such  a  conscious  movement  of  the  Holy  Spirit  tliat  it  made  itself 
known  to  the  one  who  received  it,  so  tliat  he  knew  beyond  a  doubt 
Ihal  he  was  unviirdly  commanded  by  the  Spirit  to  write  wliat  he  did 
write.  And  while  the  holy  and  blessed  aiflatus  of  the  Spirit  of  Ohrist 
(i  1  et.  1 :11)  was  on  them,  it  opened  to  them  the  depths  of  truth  not 
seen  before,  (Col.  1  :2r)-27),  and  enaliled  them  to  arrange  and  to  express 
It  in  that  Avay  that  would  save  the  greatest  number  of  souls. 

Some,  iKnvever,  may  think  it  could  have  been  better  arranged  and 
better  expressed,  but  they  are  mistaken.  If  it  had  been,  both  in 
arrangement  and  expression,  as  they  would  suggest,  it  \vould  no  more 
please  the  objectors  than  as  it  is.  For  in  every  land  where  the  (ios- 
]iel  is  preached  there  are  tliose  who  believe  and  are  saved  by  it  and 
there  are  those  who  resist  it  and  perish  in  their  gainsayi ngs"  (2  Cor. 
1:14-10.  So  it  was  of  old,  so  it,  is  now,  and  no  doubt  wfu  be  unto 
he  <Mid-  By  their  own  actions  they  make  their  damnation  greater- 
tor' they  add  to  all  their  other  sins  this  of  rejecting  the  Lord.  (1  Sam 
<S:';   li^:19  and  Luke  19:]4). 

While  in  this  second  sense  the  sacred  writers  (daim  inspiration   for 
all  1!ie  Scriptures;  yet,  as  in  the  first,  they  claim  a  direct  revelation 
that  IS  verbally  expressed,  whiclvthey  were  commanded  of  the  Lord 
lo  write;    as  when  Jehovah   pronounced  His  law  to   Adam   and  to 
Israel.      And  many,    many  other  times   He  spake   directly  to   His 
chosen  ones,  not  only  in  dreams  and  visions,  but   when    they   were 
wide  awake.    As  St.  Paul  says,  "Now  the  Spirit  speaketh  expressly,'" 
Anu  he  gives  the  utterance  of  the  Spirit.    (1  Tim.  4:1-8).     As  did'st 
Jolm  heard  the  words,  (Rev.  10:4),  but  was  forbidden  to  write  them 
St.  .aul  there  delivered  a  prophecy  that  has  since  come  to  pass 
and  IS  being  fulfilled  tpoday.     Much  of  the  Scriptures  ^vere  given   in 
this   express  manner.     As,    "(^od   spake   unto   Moses,    sayin^.-"    and 
through  Moses  to  Israel.     And  unto  the  prophets,  and  through  them 
to  the  rulers  and  people  of  Israel,  with  "thus  .saith  the  Lord."     And 
by  His  Son,  (Heb.  1 :1  and  John  14:24);  and  by  His  Spirit,  (Acts  28: 
2.)  and  8:29);  and  by  angels  to  the  patriarchs  and   judges  of   Israel 
And  often  the  Lord  spake  unto  them  Himself.     And  the   facts  show 
that  they  were  not  mistaken.     History   defends  the   truth   of  their 
prophecies,  and  will  defend  thai  in    its  fulfillment  which  is  yet  to  be 
unveiled  to  coming  generations.    And  (fod  and  His  truth  will  ever  be 
just  ified. 

Many  of  their  threatening  judgments  hnxr  been  fulfilled  in  fearful 
certainty;  and  those  that  have  not,  doubtless,  shall  bo  in  a  more  dis- 
tant future.  While  many  of  their  (dieering  promises  have  been  most 
happily  fulfilled;  and  those  that  have  not  inost  assuredly  shall  be  in 
the  eyes  of  all. 

^  If  the  so-called    Higher   (h-itics   could    succee.i    in    (h'slroying   the 
Ihlde,  and  for  a   pnMext.all   ancient    lileralure   also,  thev    wouTd    be 


ia4.  THE  STORY  OF  OREATIOX. 

out  of  a  job;   Uu'ir  erafl  would  be  at  an  end. 

And  if  those  philosopliers  and  scientists,  so-called,  who  arc  trying 
to  nndo  human  conscience  from  the  Scriptures,  could  accomplish 
their  undertaking,  their  work  would  be  ended;  they  would  have 
notliing  more  to  do. 

[f  any  man  thinks  science  and  philosopjiy  will  flourish  without  tlie 
Bible,  lie  is  mistaken.  If  any  set  of  men  think  that  common  educa- 
tion shall  live  witliout  tlie  Bible,  tliey  are  mistaken.  If  they  think 
civilization  will  stand  without  tlie  Bible,  they  are  mistaken. 

God  in  Christ  Jesus  is  the  light  of  the  world,  and  He  shines  with  a 
steady  ray  through  His  Word.  Take  that  away  and  none  of  these 
lesser  lights  will  shine ;  it  would  be  like  blotting  out  the  sun.  Any 
fair  minded  man  who  will  study  the  liistory  of  all  these  things  can 
see  that  they  cannot,  and  will  not,  live  without  the  Bil)le. 

Sometimes  if  one  should  hear  an  infidel  lecture — which  is  not  a 
proper  thing  to  be  encouraged  in  any  way-he  mig»ht  think  he  wants  to 
destroy  C'hristlanity.  But  far  from  it.  for  that  w<nild  kill  his  own 
business. 

All  the  notoriety  that  infidelity  ever  got  came  from  Ciiristianity. 
She  furnished  the  occasion  for  tlie  birth  and  trade  of  infidelity.  The 
infidel  knows  he  ^m't  kill  her;  hence  he  keeps  on  milking  the  cow, 
for  lie  wants  to  get  all  out  of  her  he  can  for  himself. 

Infidelity  is  only  a  parasite  that  feeds  upon  Christianity.  A  fal)le 
says,  "A  gnat  apologized  to  an  ox  for  riding  on  his  horn.  The  ox 
said,  I  did  not  feel  your  weight  when  you  g<^t  on,  and  shall  not  miss 
you  when  are  gone." 

So  Christianity  lias  ever  carried  infidelity.  And  on  she  will  go, 
just  the  same,  when  infidelity  is  satisfied  1o  dismount  and  leave  her. 
Truly  she  might  say  : 

E'er  since  time  begun. 

jMoon,  stars  and  sun. 

Have  their  appointed  courses  run. 

I,  too,  having  a  mission  to  fill. 

Have  no  time  to  turn  aside 

For  a  critic  to  mount  and  ride. 

Truth  stands  on  her  own  merits.  And  it  is  a  singular  fact  that 
only  comparatively  few  of  the  great  books  of  antiquity  are  now  liv- 
ing; yet  even  the  shortest  writer  in  the  Bible  has  thereby  obtained 
what  in  history  and  literature  is  called  immortality.  And  that  upon 
a  vei-y  wide  scale.  So  true  is  it  that  the  Lord  rewards  his  servants; 
as  He  promises,  openly  and  lastingly,  too. 

Nature  has  lierself  some  preserved, 
While  love  and  art  others  enbalmed, 
But  these  embedded  are. 
In  the  living  Word  of  the  living  (xod  ; 
More  durable  than  art  or  nature  far. 
For  pass  away,  shall  tliose  some  day. 
But  these  in  His  Word   never,  nav. 


THE  8T()RY  OF  ("REATIOX.  la."). 


(^HAl'TKH   XXIV 


So  I'nr  iif!  ,(ijeolo<j,-ists  aro  coiiccriuMl  llu'v  may  l)t'  iniKM-ciit; — (xfxl  i.* 
llio  .Tu<li;e  of  all — but  they  make  many  mistakes.  They  liave  admit- 
ted some,  corrected  some  ;  will  have  to  admit  more  and  correct  more. 
As  a  science  it  is  only  in  a  formative  state;  they  have  not  <>;ot  it 
down  right  yet.  The  whole  system  will  have  to  be  readjusted.  It 
will  have  to  stand  on  facts;  and  will  have  to  have  the  ability  to  read 
the  facts  in  nature,  according  to  uatur^.     Science  is  knowledge. 

But  many  things  called  scientilic  are  very  changeable.  Which 
shows  thai  men  of  science  do  not  know  all  they  are  supposed  to  know. 
For  instance,  scientific  physicians  used  to  forbid  their  patients  in 
cases  of  fever  to  drink  water:  now  they  recommend  it.  Used  to  for- 
bid their  patients  eating  fruit ;  now  they  advise  it.  Used  to  forbid 
their  patients  to  drink  coffee ;  now  prescribe  it  as  a  remedy  against 
fever.     Of  course  they  were  mistaken  either  first  or  last. 

So  it  has  been  with  geology  from  the  first.  She  does  not  know 
what  she  claims  to  know.  The  statements  of  geologists  as  to  their 
so-called  rational  history  of  the  earth,  and  its  ages,  do  not  come 
within  the  range  of  man's  capacity  .to  know,  therefore,  that  part  of 
geology  is  no  science  at  all.  Thej^  will  have  to  prove  their  statements 
— which  cannot  be  done — or  withdraw  them. 

The  time  they  suppose  man  first  existed  is  at  the  breaking  un  of 
the  glacial  period ;  while  the  earth  was  soft  and  all  the  ice  not  yet 
gone.  Remains  of  our  domestic  animals  and  of  mankind  were  found, 
and  striated  strata  where  the  water  had  forced  great  bodies  of  ice 
river  it,  all  of  which,  as  we  have  before  shown,  is  what  might  be 
expected  to  follow  such  a  deluge  as  the  Scriptures  describe  in  the 
days  of  X'oah.  I  believe  the  geological  age  of  man  began  from  the 
time  of  that  flood. 

These  learned  men,  if  they  are  truly  wise,  and  have  any  true  guide 
in  their  investigation,  will  learn  by  and  by,  when  they  become  suffi- 
ciently wise  to  make  a  correct  classification  of  what  they  call  ages, 
since  Creation — back  of  that  they  cannot  go;  there  is  nothing  to 
stand  on — that  their  conclusions  are  incorrect.  And,  if  fair,  will  cor- 
rect the  mistakes  they  have  made.  No  man  is  prepared,  without  a 
knowledge  of  the  Bible,  to  niak(>  out  a  triu^  verdict  upon  the  subject 
under  consideration.  Xeitlier  is  any  properly  prepare<l  to  teach  the 
natural  sciences  witliout  a  knowledge  of  the  Bible. 

I  believe  the  Bible  is  the  ultimate  on  the  subject  that  they  will  all 
come  to  when  the  investigation  is  complete.  Fen*  the  Bible  and 
nature  are  from  the  same  Autluu'  jmd  cannot  contradict  each  other. 
^^'henever  they  really  understand  nature  then  they  will  be  in  accord 
with  the  Bible.  From  the  first  of  geological  writing  all  of  it  that  has 
appeared  to  contradict  the  Scriptures,  is  nothing  but  supposition, 
and  has  been  all  along,  as  far  from  the  ti-ue  course  of  nature  as  it 
was  from  the  Bible. 

T!ie  Bible  is  the  one  lK>ok  we  all  shall  be  judged  by   at    last.     We 
are  bound  to  no  man's  systeMi.     But  are   answerable    for   transgress- 
ing ov  for  disobeying  His  >\'ord,  and    for   sinning   against    our   own 
'  conscience,  and  also  for  sinnitig  against   the  light    <»r   nature   instinct- 


186.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

ively  in  ns  jill.  A.s  it  is  written,  "Doth  not  nature  teaeh  .you?'"  Or 
.«!hall  we  ask  for  a  revelation  where  common  sen.se  is  a  sufficient 
t^uide?  -Be  a  law  unto  thyself  in  eyerythinsj^  you  naturally  know  to 
be  rio'ht  or  wrong,  whether  you  find  it  in  the  Bjble  or  not.  But  you 
will  find  it  there  if  you  study  as  j^ou  ought;  for  there  i.s  no  duty  nor 
any  phase  of  sin  it  does  not  throw  its  light  upon.  It  is  exceedingly 
broad  and  covers  the  whole  of  man's  heart  and  life  ;  his  whole  moral, 
mental  and  physical  nature. 

If,  therefore,  the  Bible,  conscience  or  instincts  of  nature  warn  you, 
you  should  heed  tliat  warning.  I  believe  the  Spirit  of  God  touches 
ever}'  man's  nature  at  some  point  or  other.  (Jolin  1 :9).  When  fol- 
lowed it  always  leads  in  the  right  way.     (Ps.  119  :9). 

To  say  tJiat  the  strata  have,  or  that  the  earth  has  been  millions  of 
j'ears  in  forming,  is  more  smart  than  wise.  There  i.s  nothing  found 
in  nature  that  authorizes  such  statements;  and  besides,  we  all  have 
to  account  to  the  Judge  of  all  for  all  we  teach,  as  well  as  for  all  we 
do.  If  we  are  to  give  account  for  all  of  our  idle  words,  much  rather 
for  false  teaching. 

The  most  inconsistent  of  all,  it  seems,  is  a  woman  in  the  midst  of 
Ohristian  civilization  delivered  by  the  Gospel  of  Olirist,  though  not 
herself,  perhaps,  a  happy  Christian,  from  female  drudgery  and 
cruelty  more  severe,  that  still  exists  in  heathendom,  to  speak  or 
write  anything  against  a  .true  Christianity.  May  high  Heaven  grant 
them  the  true  light  to  deliver  them  from  such  an  unhappy  inconsis- 
tency, and  work  in  them  to  will  and  to  be  true  Christians  themselves. 

The  geologists  bring  in  the  evolutionary  naturalists  to  help  them 
to  make  out  tlieir  case.  But  like  Job's  intended  comforters,  they 
are  miserable  helpers.     They,  too,  are  guilty  of  many  mistakes. 

For  a  long  while  they  held  to  the  statement  that  the  Scorpion  in 
distress  would  sting  himself  to  death,  to  relieve  his  sufferings.  But 
late  experiments,  it  is  said,  have  shown  that  his  fluid  has  no  poisonous 
effect  upon  himself.  Here  is  a  mistake  admitted  and  corrected  by 
more  perfect  knowledge.  And  there  are  yet  many  others  which  more 
perfect  knowledge  will  correct.  There  is  nothing  reliable  in  conjec- 
tural philosophy  nor  in  hypothetical  science.  The  very  best  that 
can  be  said  for  them  is  they  are -only  innocent  suppositions. . 

Now  they  want  to  say  there  is  a  successive  chain  of  being  from  the 
lowest  up  to  the  highest  forms  of  life,  with  the  obvious  purpose  of 
saying  man  is  only  an  animal — hence  soulless.  Some  of  them  have 
gone  so  far  as  to  classify  the  human  family  with  the  apes  and  the 
monkeys,  thus  breaking  over  the  well  established  rules  of  classifica- 
tion. But  ihey  nor  their  cause  will  gain  nothing  by  their  presump- 
tion and  vanity,  (2  Tim.  li:9). 

For  the  same  reason,  thcj  want  to  say  there  was  a  time  wlien  there 
were  no  birds  in  this  world,  and  the  reptiles  made  themselves  birds. 
But  if  you  ever  see  a  snake  you  will  then  know  that  these  gentlemen 
are  mistaken.  And  when  you  see  a  bird,  or  hear  one  sing,  thank  the 
Lord  that  t-lie  evolutionists  didn't  kill  them  all  to  get  their  monkeys. 
And  they  want  to  say  there  was  a  long,  long  time  when  there  were  no 
human  beings  in  the  world,  and  an  ape  made  himself  a  man — and  he 


THE  STOUV  OF  CREATION.  VM. 

is  Iho  niK'csior  of  Iho  liunuin  rnci.'.  l>iil  as  loii^'  as  liu'i'i'  arc  any  iiiJi'S 
ill  the  world  it  sliows  llioy  liavo.iiol  iiiailt'  (Uit  IIhmi-  case. 

It  is  cvidciil  tlial  if  siiai<i's  cDuld  lal<^'  wiii'^s  and  iiy  Ihey  would  do 
it  :  for  il  is  (ujd's  ciii-sc  upon  tlie  soi'pcnt  (liaf  makes  llicni  crawl  and 
cat  dusl.  if  any  one  of  iJicni  ever  did.  all  of  them  could  and  would. 
l>ut  as  lon<;' as  if  is  the  will  of  (iod  I  hat  t  liei-e  slioidd  be  reptiles  and 
birds  and  ajjt's  in  the  world,  none  of  them  can  ;'l)ani,n^  from  one  to 
another. 

And  e(ivially  it  appears  if  monkeys  could  be  men  they  would.  But 
I  believe  if  men  would  let  them  slay  in  their  own  native  haunts  they 
would  all  be  satisfied  wiih  the  way  they  are  made.  Xor  is  it  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  they  would  make  some  to  X'>  above  and  over 
fheniselves.  I  don't  think  monkeys  would  do  that.  1  don't  thiidv 
they  would  iX')  into  it  at  all,  unless  all  could  come  out  alike. 

If  an  ape  ever  evolved  a  man  he  did  a  work  which  none,  nor  all,  of 
Ids  human  jwogeuy  can  do  today;  for  all  the  men  in  the  world  can't 
take  any  kind  of  an  ape  and  make  a  man  of  him — not  even  the  low- 
est Hottentot.  The  progress  then,  is  backwai'd,  for  all  of  mairs 
improvenients  can't  do  what  they  want  to  claim  a  single  a])e  oncedid, 
a  thing  whitdi  all  the  apes  together  could  not  now  do.  A  thing  which 
neither  nature,  nor  (ireation,  nor  God  lias  ever  done. 

I  f  it  wa.s  ever  done  once  it  could  be  done  again  ;  and  no  doubt  would 
be,  for  nature  is  ever  repeating  herself.  All  that  are  now  in  exist- 
ence came  from  parents.  So  have  all  before  them,  except  the  first 
generation  of  all  living  things,  and  they  by  Creation.  Creation  is  not 
nature's  work.  It  is  sui  generis,  and  originated  nature  with  all  her 
laws.     Could  not,  therefore,  be  subject  to  the  laws  of  nature. 


CM  A  ITER  XXV 


Rki'ork  they  succeed  they  will  have  another  barrier  to  remove  :  the 
laws  of  heredity.  lender  tliese  unalterable  laws  everything  inherits 
after  its  own  kind  or  species.  Xothing  gets  out  of  its  own  species — 
neither  higher  nor  lower.  Tt  may  degrade,  or  im})rove  itself,  but  it 
is  always  in  its  own  species.  And  if  men  cross  any  of  them,  when  left 
to  themselves  they  will  invariably  go  back  into  their  own  species. 

There  is  no  proof  that  one  species  has  ever  made  another.  They 
cannot  do  it.  Mankind  can  improve  within  their  own  species,  but 
cannot  evolve  themselves  into  a  higher  one.  X'^or  can  they  go  into  a 
lower  species.      !5olh  nature  and  Providence  forbid  it. 

These  bounds  are  fixed  in  nature  by  the  ('reator.  They  have  stood 
unrepealed  thus  far;  and  will  without  any  amendments  unto  the  end 
of  time.  Everything  resembles  the  thing  it  came  from.  And  more, 
it  has  its  essential  nature — vegetable,  animal  and  human. 

Observers  say  heredity  in  its  mental  effects  have  Ixhmi  traceil  in  a 
faniily  desciMit  as  far  as  to  the  eighth  generation.  I'erhaps  this  is 
t-he  reason  why  tlie  Lord  ])roscribed  against  a  "Ijastard  unto  his 
tenth  generation."  (Deut.  2;J  :'2).  A  fearful  w;irning  against  those 
who,  as  Thomas  Carlyle  says,  "authorized  him  to  come  into  this 
world."  I  presume  t  he  m>ii'Ml  tendencies  are  moi-e  lasting  :  ban  either 
t  he  pli  vsic;!l  or  menl  al. 


138.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATIOX. 

I'liysical  defect  lias  been  known  to  follow  to  the  fourth,  menial  to 
the  eia'hth  generation  ;  but  who  has _ ever  yet  found  an  end  to  the 
moral?  What  observer  could  doubt  innate  moral  depravity  in  the 
whole  human  family?  It  is  plainly  seen  from  the  birth  of  Cain  unto 
the  present  time. 

I  do  not  tliink  the  Lord  is  less  severe  on  any  class  of  sinners  than 
heretofore  ;  but  under  the  gospel  of  a  j^erfected  atonement  all  sinners 
are  invited  upon  (xod's  terms  as  set  forth  in  His  Word,  to  come  unto 
Him  and  be  saved.  To  enter  the  church  of  the  first  born,  whose 
names  are  written  in  Heaven.  (Heb.  12:28).  Although  the  very 
chief  of  siiiners  he  may  have  been,  yet  now,  if  born  again,  his  name 
as  a  new  born  is  written  in  the  Lamb's  Book  of  Life — Salvation. 
Which  Book  goes  back  quite  close  to  the  foundation  of  the  world,  so 
as  to  embrace  Adam  and  Eve,  as  well  as  any  born  of  them.  And 
doubtless  their  spirits,  as  Abel's,  are  in  Heaven  today. 

The  evolutionists  have  crossed  over  the  seas,  gone  down  into  the 
deep;  with  the  best  glasses  human  genius  could  invent  have  walked 
through  the  skies,  and  what  have  they  found  that  contradicts  the 
Bible?  jN'othing;  absolutely  nothing.  Xor  shall  they;  for  it  is  in 
none  of  these.  And  if  they  could  raise  the  human  dead  and  ask 
them,  the  answer  would  be  the  same.  There  is  nothing  anywhere 
that  contradicts  the  Bible.  But  rather  nature  everywhere  bears  tes- 
timony to  the  truth  as  taught  in  the  Bible.  They  shall  not  destroy 
the  faith  of  Ood's  elect.  (Matt.  24:24:).  Men  have  tried  it  in  every 
way  they  could  invent  from  the  days  of  the  Son  of  Man  on  earth. 

It  would  be  strange  if  a  man  would  risk  losing  his  soul  on  such 
flimsy  evidence  as  these  writers — any  class  of  them — offer  a-^ainst 
truth  in  luiture  and  in  the  Bible.  He  will  not  risk  his  temporal 
interest  upon  such  uncertainties.  And  will  he  risk  his  higher — high- 
est— on  it?  If  so,  then,  it  shows  to  be.  true  what  the  Bible  aflirms, 
he  is  wiser  in  his  temporal  than  in  his  spiritual  interest.  (Luke 
1(5:8-9).  Or  in  his  temporary  than  in  his  permanent  interest.  After 
awhile  these  writers  will  withdraw  their  conclusions,  and  admit  they 
were  mistaken  on  these  points.  If  they  ever  understand  nature  and 
the  Bible,  too,  and  are  fair  and  honest,  they  will  see  and  own  that 
they  are  both  from  one  Author. 

Geologists  in  speaking  of  the  period  of  time  when  man  first  occu- 
pied the  earth  call  it  recent.  But  the  Higher  Critics  call  everything 
before  the  Christian  era  ancient — too  old  for  them.  Everything  not 
distinctly  modern  i.-;  offensive  to  them  ;  while  some  astronomers  are 
gladly  i-eceiving  ancient  light  from  the  fixed  stars. 

The  evolutionists  write  the  devil  extinct.  The  geologists  decide  he 
never  did  exi.st,  because  they  do  not  find  any  of  his  remains  preserved 
— fossilized — anywhere.  The  Lligher  Critics  decapitate  Moses  and 
the  prophets,  and  to  justify  themselves  destroy  all  ancient  litera- 
ture. Surely,  if  the  C-hristian  pilgrim  had  stopped  to  listen  to  all 
these,  he  would  never  have  found  his  way  to  the  Celestial  City. 

It  is  strange  the  Higher  C-ritics  don't  get  hold  of  tlie  geologists  and 
astronomers  for  believing  in  antiqtiity,  and  1  hose  who  are  trying  to 
remodel  the  old  philosophies  of  tlie  heathen.  But  now  thoy  seein  to 
forget  everything  else   to  work   on    the    Bihh'   luid    Christianity.      As 


TIIK  S'lOHY   ()Ki'REA'I'IC)X.  im. 

» 
bots  ill  a  liorsi-'s  slomacli,  llicy   luive  let  iio  everyl  liiii.u'  clso  and  ji;one 
to  ji-iia\viii,U'  llie  mare  lliat  raised  and  supported  them. 

If  there  had  been  no  Christ ianity,  there  would  have  been  no 
Higher  Critics.  They  arc  much  like  onc^  trying  to  kill  his  own 
mother.     They  are,  too,  working  against  tlioir  own  best  interests. 

These  writers  try  lo  eliminate  the  su]iernatural  out  of  Creation 
and  nature;  like  soiiie  others  who  try  to  ernninate  the  miracmlous 
()ul  of  (Jhristianity.  The  one  prefer  to  have  a  world  without  any- 
thing su])ernatural  in  it;  the  other  a  Christianity  without  anything 
miraculous  in  it.     They  fail  alike  to  agree  with  nature  and  the  Bible. 

All  nature  was  proikict;d  at  first  by  supernatural  power.  So  was 
Christianity.  Since,  nature  has  had  an  ever  present  supernatural 
administration.  So  has  Christianity.  The  Spirit  of  God  took  the 
l^hice  of  the  incarnated  Christ  as  soon  as  He  was  seated  at  the  right 
iiand  of  the  Father  on  high,  has  ever  been  present  in  his  church 
since  the  first  Christian  pentecost. 

The  engineer  seems  to  run  the  train  of  cars,  but  the  jiower  is  not 
in  him.  So  the  preacher  and  other  agents  seem  to  run  the  Church 
of  C.hrist,  but  the  excellency  of  the  power  is  of  Cod.  (2  Cor.  4:7). 
Electricity,  the  finest,  most  superior  power  in  the  natural  world 
ordinarily  unseen,  yet  is  in  all  matter  and  occasionally  is  aroused  to 
extraordinary  effects.  So  with  the  supernatural  power  in  the  Church 
of  Cod.  It  IS  in  exercise  all  the  time;  but  in  every  spiritu.-il  convic- 
tion and  in  every  personal  regeneration  it  is,  so  to  speak,  aroused 
into  the  miraculous  in  individual  salvation. 

Alcohol  seems  to  be  the  spirit  in  all  kinds  of  grain  and  fruits  and 
juices  that  we  make  sugar  and  syrup  of;  and  electricity  appears  to 
be  the  very  soul  of  matter.  So  the  superna-tural  is  the  very  life  of 
Christianity. 

If  you  will  take  the  supernatui-al  out  of  Creation  and  all  nature 
and  from  Christianity,  you  can  havi^  peace  with  Satan  and  all  other 
foes.  And  wiiy?  Because  they  want  to  evade  (rod's  judgment.  But  it 
is  of  no  use.  For  if  there  were  no  (Uiristianity  nor  Bible  in  the 
world  1  hey  would  still,  be  accountable  to  the  Almighty  anyhow. 

A  ciuirch  without  power  from  on  high,  however  strong  inimerically, 
cannot  be  instrumental  in  saving  souls.  ■'Salvation  is  of  (rod.'' 
Such  a  cliurch  is  only  a  body  without  :i  soul — ready  foi'  burial.  The 
enemies  don't  object  to  that  kind  of  a  ehurch.  They  ai-e  perfectly 
willing  for  you  to  have  as  much  of  that  kind  of  religion  as  you  want. 
But  they  can't  bear  anything  higher  than  nature. 

If  dumb  nature  could  speak  she  miglit  tell  us  many  things  w*' 
would  likt>  to  know;  but  we  know  that  many  of  the  statements  of 
geologists  and  others  are  mere  suppositions,  not  the  voice  of  nature. 

The  garden  of  Edeji  is  lost  to  us,  except  the  Divine  record  of  it  in 
the  Holy  Scrii)lures  of  truth.  And  that,  to  us,  is  a  very  valuable 
possession.     I  am  very  thankful  for  it. 

The  Creator  saw  that  it  would  be  best  for  us  not  to  know  where  it 
was.  Although,  if  it  could  be  found,  I  would  be  glad  to  see  it  myself. 

As  far  as  we  know,  there  are  no  relics  of  Xoah's  ark.  nor  of  that 
one  that  prottn-ted  Closes  on  the  Nile:  neither  of  any  of  liis  camping 
implements  while  in  the  wildci-ncss  ;    mu'    from    his   grave   either.      It 


]-iO.  T}IE  STOEX  OF  CREATION. 

may  be  that  the  excavators  and  reljc  luinter.s  will  lind  them,  and 
science  will  ^-ive  us  the  true  dates. 

Xeither  did  Providence  allow  us  any  relics  of  our  Savior  while  He 
lived  in  this  world,  except  what  are  in  His  living  Word.  And,  how 
precious  are  they !  So  much  better  than  the  wooden  cross,  stony 
tomb,  sandals  and  the  seamless  vesture. 

Perhaps  this  is  one  reason  why  He  didn't  keep  house — the  world 
would  have  scrambled  for  the  relics;  and  with  more  persistence,  per- 
Jiaps,  than  for  the  Master  Himself ;  or  some,  at  least,  would  have. 
For  instance,  as  in  the  crusades,  He  snft'ered  all  to  be  destroyed,  but 
what  He  had  written  of  him.  He  had  preserved  more  durable  than  in 
stone.     The  Lord  would  do  better  for   us,  but  for  our  very  weakness. 

If  the  Lord  denied  us  the  more  desirable,  shall  we  be  surprised 
that  we  find,  comparatively,  so  few  of  the  less  desirable  from  ancient 
life  preserved  in  nature?  Shall  we  say  such  and  such  things  did  not 
exist  because  we  do  not  find  any  remains  of  them  pi'eserved  in 
organic  form  ;  when  we  know  that  so  many  things  did  exist  of  which 
no  organic  remains  are  found  preserved  in  nature?  The  one  would 
be  as  agreeable  to  reason  as  woidfl  the  other. 

The  viper  is  a  poisonous  serpent.  This  is  the  word  most  frequently 
used  by  Our  Lord  on  this  subject;  and  by  John  the  Baptist,  too. 
The  gland  that  secretes  the  poison  is  said  to  be  located  iinder  the 
eye.  This  is,  perhaps,  why,  if  they  can  get  anj-thing  to  look  steadily 
in  their  eyes,  they  can  charm  them.  I  do  not  think  it  is  of  the 
nature  of  hypnotistn.  I  rather  think  it  is  the  effect  of  their  ]3oison 
exerted  tlirough  their  eyes  that  -overcomes  their  prej'.  John  Milton 
believed  that  the  poison  was  given  to  the  ser])ent  after  the  tempta- 
tion and  sin  of  man.  I  think  so  myself.  In  ])art  for  his  defence, 
and  in  part  to  warn  us  of  the  poisonous  nature  and  danger  of  sin. 
He  also  thought  that  venal  lust  seized  upon  Adam  and  Eve  soon  after 
they  sintied.  Perhaps  so.  t  believe  sin  lias  instilled  poison  in  the 
human  blood,  especially  venal  poison.  And  perhaps  malice,  too,  or 
a  feeling  of  revenge  as,  perhaps,  they  had  against  the  serpent  for 
what  he  had  been  the  means  of  doing,  and  hatred  to  the  devil,  too, 
as  their  first  born  turned  out  to  be  a  murderer.  Here  are  the  first 
fruits  of  heredity. 

By  the  time  of  Abel's  birth  they  had  undergone  a  change  for  the 
better,  and  tlieir  revenge  had  mellowed  into  a  deep  sorrow  for  sin 
and  misfortune,  hence  they  named  liiin  Abel,  a  name  significant  of 
mourning,  which  follows  bereavement  or  soniething  verj"  dear.  And 
they  v/ere  now  bereft  indeed. 

We  are  Doisoned  at  the  fountains  of  our  being.  Hence  to  right  a 
human  life  you  must  first  right  its  heart.  (Matt,  7:17,  Jas.  8:11). 
And  even  then  under  unfortunate  circumstances  it  is  hard  to  keep 
keart  and  life  ri<i-ht.      But  it  can  be  done;   and  should  be.     Amen. 


OHAPTKK  XXVI. 


Thk  Lord  was  good  1o  man  at  lirst,  and  not  less  so  after  he  sinned, 
notwithstanding,  they  had  to  suli'er  for  their  sin.  At  first  He  pro- 
vided   his    food    for    him    by   spontaneous   production.       Afterward, 


THE  STORY  OF  (^REATIOX.  HI. 

Ilu)ii>4li,  lu'  \v;is  cloonu'd  lo  work  f(ir  Ins  iiviiiii',  ((n'li.  iJ:!!));  llic  l.onl 
was  "-ood  to  liitii  in  puftiiiy  i1  within  sucli  easy  reacli  to  liim. 

\\'<)rk  was  not  only  a  penally  i'or  what  he  had  done;  but  so  changed 
was  he  by  the  effects  of  sin  and  its  curse,  that  work  was  henceforlh 
necessary  for  liis  iiealth — of  body  and  mind  and  soul — to  liis  physi- 
cal, mental  and  moral  nature.  And  under  his  champed  conditions, 
was  a  means  of  ])romotini^-  his  happiness. 

The  Lord  made  it  much  easier  for  him  by  causiiiiii'  the  leading  food 
plants  in  their  very  nature,  growth  and  structure  to  suggest  to  him 
methods  of  planting,  of  culture,  of  harvesting  and  of  threshing  them. 
For  instance;  wheat,  barley,  rye  and  oats,  all  standing  upright  would 
naturally  suggest  to  him  methods  most  easy  and  rapid  for  ha.rvesting 
and  of  threshing  them,  as  he  would  notice  liow  nature  herself  sepa- 
rated the  grain  from  the  husk  in  each  kind.  So  do  rice  and  Indian 
corn  suggest  all  these  things  by  their  naiure.  And  the  fibrous  plants, 
us  cotton,  flax  and  others  grow  upright.  How  much  Ijetter  than  if 
they  rested  on  the  ground  easily  appears. 

The  species  of  cane  out  of  which  we  get  oitr  supply  of  sugar  and 
syrup  stand  upright,  in  easy  reach  of  nuin's  hand,  therefore,  is  clean 
and  nice  for  his  use.  Tlie  same  is  true  of  the  cofl'ee  plant,  and  the 
tea  plant ;  and  many  others,  as  beans,  cabbage  and  peas  ;  while  soitie 
trail  on  the  ground,  as  the  squash,  pumpkin  and  melons;  but  we  see 
that  it  is  best  for  them,  they  need  to  rest  on  the  ground. 

And  others  grow  under  tlie  surface;  as  potatoes,  turnips,  beets, 
onions,  ground  peas  and  chufas,  which  we  see  is  best  for  them;  for 
they  need  moisture  and  protection  from  heat,  and  alternately  cold, 
which  defefids  them  at  all  seasons. 

The  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  Creator  is  happily  seen  in  this 
wonderful  adaptation  of  nature's  vast  resources  to  the  needs  of  every 
living  creature,  especially,  to  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  all  uaan- 
kind.  And  no  less  wisdom  and  skill  than  His  could  have  so  arranged 
it  all  as  it  is  in  all  the  earth  today. 

If  nature  did  it  herself,  then  she  i.s  wiser  than  all  the  men  in  the 
world.  She  did  it,  too,  in  advance  of  ci'eature  wants.  Any  man  is 
obliged  to  see,  if  he  will  think  at  all,  that  nature  of  herself  could  do 
no  such  things.  But  "The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart.  There  is  no 
Cxod."  (Ps.  o!}:!).  If  he  denies  (xod's  existewce  it  shows  that  he  is 
incapable  of  reasoning.  St.  Peter  speaks  of  some  who  are  ignorant 
of  the  facts  of  Creation — av^  willingly  ignorant  of  them.  Of  that 
great  fact  that  all  things  were  produced  by  the  word  of  (lod,  (2  Peter 
8:'));   that  the  whole  universe  was  produced  by  His  word'. 

They  did  not  try  to  inform  thetuselves  upon  the  sul)jecf .  Perhaps, 
preferred  not  to  know.  So  it  is  now  with  their  succi'ssors.  He  says, 
"There  shall  come  in  the  last  days  scoffers  walking  after  their  own 
lusts,"  And  that  these  scoffers  would  be  equally  ignorant  of  the 
Bible  doctrine  of  the  general  .Iiidgment  at  thcf  last  day.  As  tJien,  so 
now,  they  do  not  want  to  be  informed  on  them;  are  willingly  igno- 
rant of  them.  In  order  to  Iiave  sound  and  healthy  faith  in  (fod,  it  is 
necessary  to  understand  the  Bible  on  both  these  great  subjects. 

To  encourage  the  Christian  ^He  reminds  them  of  the  fact  if  tln' 
lime  shoulil  ajipear  very  long,  that  it  was  an  evidence  of  the  patience 


142.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

of  God  toward  a  world  slow  in  preparing  for  tliat  solemn  event ;  and 
that  the  tardijiess  of  the  promise  on  tlie  one  hand,  and  the  slowness 
of  the  judjj-ment  on  the  other,  would  result  in  the  salvation  of  more. 
(2  Peter  8:9-15). 

But  as  bad  as  the  scoffers  are,  perhaps,  the  atheists  are  worse. 
Revelation  declares  what  the  fool  thinks  in  his  heart.  (Ps.  58:1). 
Such  are  the  thoughts  of  a  fool.     And  it  is  w^orse  to  utter  them. 

There  are  some  things  about  plants  more  wonderful  than  those 
mentioned  above.  For  instance,  one  plant  draws  out  of  the  ground 
that  which  is  sweet;  while  by  its  side  another  may,  and  often  does, 
draw  out  of  the  same  soil  that  which  is  bitter.  One  plant  bears  food 
for  men<  another  at  the  same  place  brings  forth  poison.  In  the  one 
is  life,  in  the  other  deatli ;  yet  growing  together.  The  luscious  water 
melon  and  the  wild  gourd,  each  after  its  kind,  may  grow  and  bear  in 
the  same  hill.  The  same  soil  may  produae  Indian  corn,  cotton, 
.•^weet  potatoes  and  peas  all  together  at  the  same  time.  The  peach 
and  the  crab  may  grow  side  by  side,  and  each  bear  its  own  peculiar 
fruit. 

It  is  not  merely  nature  combined  with  the  art  of  man  that  doeth 
it,  it  is  that  Providence  which  is  over  all;  which,  althougli  all  are 
growing  together,  each  doing  its  own  peculiar  work,  keeps  them  from 
mixing  with  each  other.  ^ 

Indian  corn  will  mix  within  its  own  species,  but  not  outside  of  it. 
Xor  does  wheat  mix  with  oats,  nor  rye,  nor  barley.  Peas  will  mix 
with  peas,  but  not  outside  of  peas.  So  cotton  will  mix  with  cotton, 
but  not  with  other  plants ;  nor  will  flax.  Sweet  potatoes  will  cross 
in  their  owni  species,  but  do  not  mix  with  Irish  potatoe's.  Nor  do 
apples  cross  Avith  cherries,  nor  pears  with  plums;  but  every  one 
bears  after  its  own  kind.  Neither  is  it  nature  of  herself  that  does 
all  these  things,  but  it  is  Providence  that  keeps  us  pure  seeds  in 
everything  if  we  will  only  do  our  part.  We  owe  it  all  to  Him,  who  is 
ever  working  through  nature  for  our  happiness.  It  was,  and  is  His 
delight,  that  every  one  should  yield  fruit  after  its  kind.  And  as  His 
Word  teaches  us,  in  everything  we  should  give  Him  thanks. 

See,  too,  how  good  He  is  in  furnishing  so  much  as  He  does  without 
any  man's  labor.  As  in  the  tropics,  the  savage  can  gather  from 
nature's  common  his  daily  bread;  and  in  temperate  zones  much 
grows  wild,  free  for  all. 

Suppose  there  had  been  no  Creation*  where  could  all  the  seeds 
have  come  from  that  support  the  world  now?  If  nature  furnished 
the  first  seed  of  all  our  harvests,  why  can't  she. do  it  today?  None  of 
these  wi'iters  would  be  willing  to  depend  on  nature  for  the  grain  their 
bi'ead  is  to  come  from.  Suppose  all  seed  that  we  plant  today  were 
destroyed,  wdiere  could  we  get  wheat,  barley,  rye,  oats  and  the  others 
to  start  with  again?  We  could  not  stock  the  world  again  with  any 
of  these.  Nor  could  we  with  cotton  seed,  nor  flax  seed,  nor  any  other. 
All  of  these  plants  are  dependent  upon  seed  for  reproduction.  And 
those  that  are  not,  depend  UDon  scions,  slips,  grafts  and  buds. 

Now  if  nature  herself  furnislied  the  first,  she  could  furnish  the 
world  again.  But  there  is  no  civilized  man  who  is  willing  to  risk  his 
life  for  her  to  do  it. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  148.  ^ 

In  liiiu'  or  the  iiood  tlic  Lord  luul  Xoali  (d  save  soiiu'  in  tlie  ark  ol'  ^ 
all  kinds  tlial.  wore  in   dan^-er  of   being  killed   out.     A   flood   of  one 

year's  eonliniiance  would  not  kill  out  all  plant   life   anyway.     INIany  ' 

kinds  of  seed  will  lie  in   the  earth   for  years,  and   sprout   when    the  ^ 

conditions  become  favorable  for  their  germination.  ■ 

The  Lord  created  at  first  everything  with  its  seed  in   itself,  so  the 

Bible  teaches,  and  there  is  no  other  way  open  to  reason   or  common  -; 

sense,  on  the  subject  of  its  origin.     If  all  in  the  world   today  should  J 

by  any  means  get  destroyed,  there  is  no  one  willing  to  depend  upon  J 
nature  alone  for  another  start.     But  if  she  did  it  at  first,  she   could 

do  it  again.     Yet  none   of   these   writers   would   risk   it,  unless   they  ^ 

were  obliged  to,  and  then  they  would  starve.  ^ 

In  other  days  the  enemy  used  physical  opposition,  now  he  is  try-  .; 
ing  to  use  mental   forces,  but  it    is  the   same   old   foe.     "The   earth 
helped  the  woman,"'  and  restrained  him  from  the  first,  now  he  is  doing 

the  best  he  can  to  sustain  his  cause  under  existing  circumstances.  .-,_ 

If  any  one  should^why  I  do  these  things,  my   answer  is:     For  the  (^<.,i:,ujfi 

glory  of  that  (irod  who  made  me,  and  redecTued  me  by  His  grace;  and  i 

for  the  good  of  my  fellow  men.     And  for  either  I  am  happy  to   have  * 

the  privilege  to  work.  And  if  it  were  necessary  woiild  jiatiently  suffer.  J 

And  now  let  me  say  candidly  and  honestly  to  all :     J   have  studied  ■! 

both  sides  and  every  phase  of  the  subject  under  discussion  the  best  I  J 

could,  and  I  believe  the  students  of  Revelation  and   the  students  of  j 

nature  will  see  that  God  is  the  same  in  both  fields.     He  wants  both  i 

fields — all  fields — worked,  no  doubt.     And  in  some  way,  or  other  He  < 

moves  men  to  think  and  work  in  the   various  fields  of  investigation.  i 

"All  are  His  servants."     (Ps.  119:91).                                            '  ;; 

Preachers    have    to    serve   Him   in   their  sphere ;    others  in   other  ] 

spheres.     Pharoah,   Xebuchadnezzar,   Darius,   Cyrus  and  Alexander  j 

all  served  His  Honor  and  His  Glory  in  their  spheres.  j 

The  missionary  serves  Him;  but  not  less  the  explorer,  as  Living-  \ 

ston  and  others  pioneering  for  the  Church  of  God  in  the  wilderness.  ' 

Soldiers  and  sailors,  poets  and  artists,  kings  and   their  subjects.  •  • 
rulers  and  their  fellow  citizens,  merchants  and  bankers,  lawyers  and 
doctors,  farmers  and  peddlers,  and  other  traveling  agents  that  bother 
them  so  much,  all,  all  are  His  servants. 

^^'e  should  all  be  patient  with  each  other.     All  of  us,  if  honest,  are  ; 

serving  (rod  in  our  various  fields  of  work  and   labor,  for  we   can   be  j 

Christians,  and   we  all   shall  come  together  by  and    by.     A  grand  j 
day  that !                                                                       ','■■. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


"Hi:  hath  made  everything  beautiful  in  its  time" — season.  (Eccl. 
8:11  R.V.)  So  we  see;  and  equally  true  is  it .  Everything  is  beau- 
tiful in  its  place;  and  also  that  everything  is  useful  in  its  place.  At 
the  same  ]51ace  the  margin  says:  "Also  He  hath  set  eternity  in  their 
heart."  It  is  always  in  season  for  men  io  have  the  belief  of  eternity 
in  their  hearts.  And  it  is  alwaj-s  beautiful,  ever  in  plat'e  and  always 
useful.     It  shows,  too,  that  by  nature  they  are  so  far  above  beasts. 

Beauty  is  one  of   the  happiest  results  in  all  art;  and  not  less  so  in 


144.                            THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  , 

nature.     Beauty  is  no  accident^  in  art;   no  more  can  it  be  in  natui-e.  i 
JSothing  in  art  requires  more  thought  and  ettort  to  be  produced  tluin 

beauty.     Then,  how  could  it  adorn    nature  as  it  does  without  intelli-  1 
g-ence  to  produce  it?     Perfect  beauty  is  the   perfection   of  art.     The 
beauty  in  nature  is  far  superior  to  beauty  in  art  and  must  be  from  a 
higher  Autlior  tlian  is  artistic  beauty. 

The  sculptor  could  tell  you  that  in  his  art  there  are  laws  governing  \ 
beauty,  and  that  without  obedience  to  them  he  could  not  produce  "A 

thing  of  beauty."     The  same  is  true  of  nature.    In  her  beauties  laws  /-i  < 

were  as  strictly  obeyed  as  ever  in  any  art.     Yea,  tridy  so.                         f  ^ 

Every    artist    knows    that    more    tliought    and    delicate    work    are 
required  in  art  to  produce  perfect  beauty  than  is  spent  on  any  other 

part  of  the  copy.     There  has  to  be  a  just  proportion   of  all  the  out-  ; 

lines,  just  dimensions  of  parts   to   correspond   with   all  other  parts.  'i 

J^very  one   must   have   its   exact  dimensions    in    proportion    to    the  '1 

dimensions  of  others,  and  to  the  whole  figure.     And  eveiy  bit  of  it  is  , 
copied  from  the  ol^jeet  in  nature  it  is  intended  to  represent. 

The  general   contoiu*  and  all   external   parts  have   to  conform   to 
nature  in  the  model.     Every  feature   has   to  be  perfect  in  itself,  and 
all    features    properly   blended   together  to  constitute   the  outward  ! 
I)eauty,  which  cannot  be  perfect  if  a  single  feature  is  lacking — or  too  \ 
small  or  too  large — or  in  any  way  imperfect.     All  of  which  is  just  as  ; 
true  in  nature..     And  she  obeys  all  the  laws  of  perfect  beauty,  show- 
ing to   us   not  only  the  wisdom    and   skill,    but   also    her  Author's  < 
exquisite  taste  for  beauty.  ] 

In  evei'y  well  constructed  piece  of  mechanism   there  ai'e  members  } 

proportionately  large   and  proportionately  small.     So  it  is  in  every-  •! 

thing  in  nature ;   in    its  organization,  contour  and   external    beauty,  j 

and  its  proper  use.  ' 

Inspiration  draws  upon  this  principle   in    luiture   to   illustrate  the 

organization  of  the  church  with  the  relation  of  every  member  to  other  i 

members,  and  to  the  church  as  the  whole  body.     (I  Gor.  12:18-28).  ,\ 

In  luiture  every  flower  is  perfect  itself.     Its  beauty  is  perfect.  The  ; 

same  laws  of  dimension,  relatively,  and  adjustment  of  the  different  ; 
parts  and  of  features  prevail  in  every  single  one,  as  do  in    the  whole 

flowering  department.  ■ 

In  the  class,  as  a  whole,  are  unity  and  variety  ;^re  blended  together  ' 

in  the  general  view  dift'erent  sizes,  diff'erent  forms   and  different   col-  i 

ors.     Tlie  class  is  perfect  as  a  whole ;  as  a  whole   its  beauty  is  per-  ' 

feet.     Yet  no  more  than  each  one  is  perfect,  and  perfectly  beaut  if  al.  | 

The  same  as  to  large,  and  small,  and  form,  and  color,  grouped  and  > 

blended  together  in  one  scene,  prevail  in  every  department  of  nature  ;  : 

embracing   all  extremes  of   every  kind  and   feature   in   one  perfect  i 
whole;  which  is  the  perfection  of  beauty.     (Ps.  51)  :2).     This  is  true 

of  each  single  one,  of  each  department,  of  nature  as  one  ^rand  whole.  '■ 

As  it  is  also  in  Plis  spiritual  realm.  The  just  blending  of  all  extremes  ', 
into  one  perfect  whole  is  perfection — perfection  of  beauty.* 

When   we   look    upon    the  world   of   springing,  growing  grass,  the  ^ 
meadows,  pampas,  prairies  and  table  lands,  what  beauty  everywhere 

in  nature's  green  greets  our  eyes.    And  upon  the  forest  as  it  waves  in  i 

majesty  with  its  almost  countless  variety  of    genus  and  species  of  all  ' 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  1  1.'). 

Jieiji'lils,  of  all  siz(.'.-<,  ol'  all  I'onns,  ol'  all  rolors,  of  coarsom'ss  and  fitio- 
ne^is  of  work  and  of  tinisli,  wluit  beautiful  soencH.  it  prespiits.  Climb 
1  ho  ri(I«-es,  ascend  the  mountains,  "view  tlie  landscape  o'er;"  rise 
higher  until  the  clouds  of  heaven  like  pillows  of  softest,  whitest, 
prettiest  down  roll  below  your  feet  and  greet  your  rapturous  eyes 
with  wonder.  Look  thence  upon  nature's  face  all  around  you,  now 
level,  now  oval,  now  broken  into  gulfs,  canj'ons,  deep  gaps  and  high 
(•lifts,  ])reci pilous  lieights,  giving  the  scene  a  grotesque  Ijeaiity. 

J^ook  out  upon  the  world  of  water,  from  the  dew  drop  sparkling  in 
tlie  morning  sunlight  up  to  the  arch  of  the  rainbow  spanning  the 
skies  over  your  liead.  From  the  rivulet  and  tiny  brook  to  the  mighty 
river,  rushing  over  tlie  slioals  and  cataracts,  now  silently  rolling  in 
grandeur  in  its  beautiful  channel,  ornamented  on  either  !<ide  with 
trees  in  lovely  green,  as  it  sweeps  on  through  the  tropics.  Now  as  in 
silvery  basins  revels  in  the  high  land  ponds — oft  quite  up  to  the 
mountains — and  in  the  silver  lakes  of  pure  water,  a«s  in  northern 
climes,  and  in  the  great  gulfs  of  southern  regions,  and  grand  lakes  of 
all  continents,  and  bays,  and  sounds,  to  the  ocean's  sweep  around 
the  globe ;  now  sparkling  with  gems  of  beauty,  then  rolling  in  tre- 
mendous power  and  overwliehning  majesty,  and  from  some  eminence 
view  her  in  her  natural  state  of  repose — one  of  the  grandest  scenes  in 
the  terrestrial  world. 

Tlien  look  up  into  the  heavens,  by  night  or  by  day.  Consider  the 
splendors  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stai's,  and  other  wonders  and  beau- 
ties in  the  upper  deep.  Gaze  and  gaze  and  yet  dwell  upon  the  scene, 
till  your  eyes  are  ravished  with  beauty.  Pieauty  in  perfect  order. 
Agreeable  to  her  estalilished  laws. 

Xow  ask  yoiu'self,  wlience  are  all  these  v.-ith  their  wondrous  scenes 
of  beauty?  Could  any  accident  in  nature  have  caused  them  to  be? 
Could  any  inherent  law  of  matter  in  itself  have  produced  them  and 
so  arranged  tliem,  so  as  that  shall  be  the  counterpart  of  this,  and  all 
of  them  so  help  one  another,  so  that  it  takes  them  all  to  make  one 
perfect  whole,  and  that  no  one  part  can  exist  without  the  other 
parts?  ^^'as  there  not  heliind  or  before  them  all,  a  conceiving  mind, 
a  guiding  eye,  a  polishing  hand?  Cleai'ly  it  is  seen  that  nothing 
short  of  the  Supreme  mind,  power  and  skill,  could  have  done  this. 

See  the  worlcl  of  flowers.  What  exquisite  beauty  here!  From  the 
least  to  tlie  greatest  of  them  rare  beauty  strikes  us  with  surprise  and 
delight.  From  tlie  tiny  violet  to  the  magnificent  magnolia.  Of  all 
forms  and  colors,  greeting  the  eye  with  beauty,  tilling  the  sense  of 
smell  with  sweetness.  All  of  the  fruit  bearing  trees,  domestic  and 
wild;  and  all  fruit  ])earing  vines,  are  full  of  beautiful,  sweet  flowers, 
tilling  tlie  spring  time  atmosphere  with  fragrance,  a  precursor  of  the 
luscious  fruit  coming  after.  After  this,  not  less  lieautiful  is  the 
steady  growth  of  solid  green  of  summer,  nor  that  aulunin  of  solemn 
beauty  which  is  to  follow  it,  all  bi'iiiging  so  much  lKip])iness  into 
realizjilion. 

Look  at  the  insect  world.  The  countless  ones  ihaf  crawl  ujion  the 
ground,  and  1  he  not  less  minicrous  ones  that  luizz  in  ihe  air.  The 
caterpillar,  the  grub,  the  chrysalis  and  the  l)Ug  on  wings.  The  moth 
of  various  sizes,  i'ornis   and    colors,  of   quiti'    infinite    variety   and   of 


Uu.  THT<:  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

great  beauty.  Ai;;I  the  pretty  butterflies  in  tlieir  beautiful  spring-, 
rtummer  and  fall  drosses. 

Look  Tipon  the  world  of  reptiles  tliat  lies  at  your  feet.  Althou.^li 
hideous  to  our  feelino-s,  it  nevertheless,  has  a  s'reat  deal  of  resist  ful, 
uninvitinj]^  beauty  to  our  touch. 

Behold  the  world  of  fish.  What  a  variety  of  sizes,  shapes  and  col- 
ors of  Vv'onderful  beauty  and  povv'ers  of  impression  to  ^ive  delight  to 
the  beholder;  from  the  tiniest  minnow  to  the  splendid  trout;  and 
the  fine  g'old  fish,  to  ravish  the  eye  with  their  beauty  and  tempt  the 
appetite  for  gustation. 

Look  out  upon  the  feathered  world.  Now  afloat  upon  the  water, 
now  riding  the  air,  now  on  fooli  by  land  or  by  sea,  now  filling  your 
groves  Vt'ith  the  music  of  ;;  happy  nature,  which  without  craft  or 
commerce  are  blessed  with  a  wealth  of  enjoyment  which  our  cJiild- 
hood  often  covets. 

Now  look  ati  that  world  of  beasts  which  lies  all  around  you.  Its 
droves  of  hordes,  its  hei'ds  of  cattle,  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats,  herd» 
of  deer,  antelopes  and  others  of  numerous  species,  of  animals  both 
great  and  small,  with  all  their  beauty,  and  wonderful  mechanism, 
instinctive  natures,  countles.s"  variety  of  life,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest  of  them.  See  how  all  these  living  togeth.er  in  this  world  at 
the  same  time  are  happy  neighbors  to  each  other  in  all  the  world  of 
nnimal  life.  So  much  so  that  they  could  hardly  get  along  without 
each  other. 

And  then  think  that  they  have  lived  thus  together  without  m.ixing 
in  nature  one  species  with  any  other  species  ever  since  the  day  they 
wore  created.  And  you  will  be  almost  lost  in  astonishment  at  that 
];)Ower  and  that  wisdom  that  produced  them,  arranged  them,  pro- 
tected them  in  their  kinds,  and  provided  for  them,  as  they  have  boon 
and  are  unto  this  day. 

What  power  and  what  wisdom  could  liave  done  a  work  so  vast,  so 
intricate,  so  wonderful?  Surely  it  could  not  bo  anything  loss  than 
the  work  itself !     It  was  God.     The  Lord  Aim iglity. 

Then  when  \xe  look  at  the  human  family  as  it  is  today,  or  as  it  has 
been  in  any  other  age  of  the  race;  upon  the  humaii  face  in  its  per- 
fection oi  beauty  in  male  and  female;  in  its  arc  of  intelligence,  in  its 
radiant  splendoi*s  of  mind  and  spirit;  can  wo  think  an  ape  is  the 
author  of  that  face?  God  forbid.  Yes,  forbid  that  any  one  of  the 
race  should  be  so  base  as  to  say  or  to  think  it.  I  do  not  think  any 
one  can  say  it  in  sincerity.  Truly,  in  view  of  all  the  evidence  in 
nature  we  might  conclude  it  would  be  indeed  only  a  fool  who  could 
oven  think  "in  his  heart  there  is  no  God."     (Ps.  53:1). 

All  beauty  is  of  God.  All  ugliness  comes  from  the  devil.  God 
Himself  is  perfect  beauty.  The  Son  of  God  "is  the  chiefest  among 
ten  thousand — lie  is  altogether  lovely.  (Cant.  5:10-16).  He  is  "fairer 
than  the  children  of  men."     (Ps.  45:1-8). 

God  is  happy.  The  source  of  happiness,  as  Ho  is  of  beauty,  and  of 
love,  and  all  that  is  good.  Whenever  He  manifests  Himself  to  a  soul 
in  that  extraordinary  way  which  He  does  not  unto  the  world  at  large, 
that  soul  is  happy. 

He  is  alwaj'S  with  Hi.';  people,  but  when    they   have   thnt  peculiar 


TKE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  117. 

tnunifestalioii  of  ]li^  prosonce,  tlioro  is  .u,'roat  rejoicin;;-  nmon<>-  tliom, 
Tlic  shout  of  a  Kinj?  is  then  heard  in  their  camps.  It  v.-as  so  all 
tliroii,:[jrh  Old  Testament  times,  as  throu<?h  experience  in  New  Testa- 
ment days,  and  has  been  all  alonj?  throusrh  the  years  since. 

And  what  is  more  beautiful  tlian  such  scones  in  Zion — in  her  lov- 
ing-ra]:)tuves  to  <Tod,  and  to  all  mankind — glimpses  of  Heaven,  in 
pi-aetically  redeemed  humanity.  Then  it  is  He  beautilies  the  meek 
with  salvation.  (Ps.  119:1).  And  He  puts  a  portion  of  His  beauty 
upon  them.     (Ps.  i)0:ll). 

Art  Is  indelMed  to  nature  for  allot  her  finest  conceptions.  Without 
nature  she  would  liave  no  standard  of  perfection  ;  no  criterion  for 
correct  judi^ment  of  her  merits.  Without  nature  sh.e  v.'ould  have  no 
true  ideals;  no  material  models  of  perfection.  And  wh.en  she  rises 
above  this  terrestrial  world  she  is  indebted  to  the  P>ible  for  her  con- 
ceptions of  anijels. 

The  first  ever  imitated  by  art  were  in  the  wilderness,  at  Mount 
Sinai,  when  Israel  was  free  from  other  cares — supported  directly  and 
perpetually  by  providence — had  a  fine  opportunity  to  study  and  exe- 
cute the  fine  arts.  Being  inspired  of  God  for  all  the  fine  work  of  the 
inbernacle,  (Ex.  31 :1  :11),  drew  and  carved  angels  for  the  ornamenta- 
tion of  tlie  tabernacle ;  and  for  Divine  teachings  by  object  lessons. 
(Ex.  i^7:G-9,  and  2r):17-22).  These  being  tlie  first  on  record,  other 
nations  must  have  borrowed  the  art  from  the  Hebrews.  Many  of  the 
finest  works  of  art  are  indebted  to  the  Bible  for  their  ideals, 

Tlie  Bible  has  given  inspiration  for  the  finest  of  artistic  works,  to 
poetr.y,  to  oratory  and  eloquence.  Has  led  to  the  highest  and  best 
forms  of  government  i7i  the  world  today.-  Has  given  birth  to  the 
best  civil  and  penal  codes  of  law  and  of  jurisprudence  in  existence. 
She  has  reformed  the  administration  of  government  in  civil  and  penal 
justice  and  given  to  the  nations  the  best  forms  of  retribution  in  the 
enforcement  of  law  known  among  men. 

Art  lias  conceived  well,  executed  well,  and  deserves  much  praise. 
Her  close  imitation  of  nature  often  strikes  us  with  astonishment  and 
fills  us  with  delight.  She  has  gone  far  beyond  what  earlier  ages 
could  have  conceived  for  her. 

But  nature,-providence  and  the  Bible  have  led  her  on  to  the  victo- 
ries she  has  won — to  the  triitmphs  she  enjoys  in  her  spheres  today. 
In  a  sense  it  is  by  obedience  to  that  pristine  law  given  to  man  at 
first  and  written  in  the  heart  of  the  race — subdue  nature — have  do- 
minion over  all  things.     (Gen.  1:20). 

As  a  type  of  tlie  second  man,  Christ  Jesus,  all  things,  except  the 
Father.  (1  Cor.  15:21),  were  put  under  his  feet;  mankind  in  obe- 
dience to  that  law,  repeated  in  Hebrews  2  :7-<S,  in  fulfillment  of  that 
propliecy,  are  to  triumph  over  all  natiu-e.  Make  all  serve  his  con- 
venience and  comfort,  and  help  him  to  better  serve  his  Creator, 
v/hile  tiie  an^-els  are  charged  to  minister  to  the  children  of  (iod. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


Xatttrk  or  providence  uses  in  some  \\i\y  or  otlier  for  some  specific 
purpose  everything'  which  was  creati'd  and  made  whether  we  see  thi 


148.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATIOX. 

use  of  it  or  not.  Let  a  child  look  at  a  piece  of  machinery.  He  can't 
see  any  use  for  so  nianj^  little  wheels,  but  tlie  macliinist  sees  their 
use  and  knows  the  need  of  them  :  he  knows  the  desired  result  could 
not  be' obtained  if  any  of  tliem  were  taken  out. 

So  on  earth  and  in  the  skies  are  many  thin<;;-s  which  to  us  may  seem 
useless;  yet  the  Lord  hath  need  of  them,  and  the  world  would  suffer 
damage  if  any  of  them  were  lost;  for  we  cannot  afford  to  do  without 
any  of  them — not  even  the  least  of  them. 

We  cannot  afford  for  any  of  tlie  stars  to  be  blotted  out — not  the 
smallest  of  them.  Nor  do  we  need  any  more.  They  might  be  in  the 
way  somewhere,  ^^llile  we  can't  do  so  well  with  aiiy  less  tlTan  we  have 
in  nature,  we  do  not  need  any  new  ones  brought  in.  Nature  is  all  right 
as  she  is — needs  no  change.  Evolutionists  are  heterodox  to  nature.  It 
takes  the  whole  of  nature,  every  part,  and  everything  in  nature,  to  ac- 
complish what  the  Lord  wants  done.  As  in  a  great  cotton  mill,  it  takes 
all  of  that  vast  machinery — every  piece  of  it,  every  wheel,  large  and 
small,  every  band,  long  or  short;  all  the  motive  power,  all  the  hands' 
there  emplo,yed  to  ]irodace  a  single  yard  of  cloth  as  it  does  to  turn 
out  many. 

So  in  nature,  it  takes  the  earth,  moon,  sun,  planets,  and  the  twelve 
constellations  in  concert  of  action  with  all  of  their  influence  to  per- 
fect the  smallest  flower  as  well  as  the  largest,  and  to  ripen  the  least 
of  seeds  for  the  smallest  of  birds,  as  well  as  the  largest  kind  of  grain 
for  the  largest  birds,  animals,  and  for  mankind. 

And  no  doubt  it  would  have  cost  the  Lord  as  much  to  redeem  one 
soul  as  to  redeem  the  whole  race. 

Everything  in  the  mineral  kingdoin  is  for  tlie  use  of  mankind. 
Everythiiig  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  is  for  their  beneflt.  Everything 
in  the  animal  kingdom  is  for  their  help.  Although  often  the  help  of 
some  is  unseen  by  those  who  receive  it.  We  would  scarcely  see  the 
use  of  mosquitoes,  gnats  and  flies,  yet  they  are  helpful  to  us. 

I  have  noticed  that  everything  which  is  at  all  peculiar  to  a  country  • 
is  needed  in  that  country.     In   hot  countries  are   more   mosquito(>s, 
gnats  and  flies,. and  I  tliink  they  help  the  people  to  better   healtli, 
less  sickness  than  otherwise,  in  those  climates. 

The  house  fly  being  a  universal  companion  of  man,  she  finds  his 
abodes  in  all  latitudes,  as  far  as  I  know  at  least.  Yet  I  Jiave  never 
seen  in  the  works  of  any  writer  a  true  account  of  her  generation. 

She  hatches  her  young  within  her  body;  delivers  only  one  at  a 
time;  drops  it  on  the  warm  excrements  of  animals.  It  resembles  a 
very  small  white  worm,  crawls  at  once,  sinks  itself  out  of  sight; 
tliere  it  remains  if  not  interrupted  until  it  passes  its  pupa  state,  into 
which  it  soon  goes.  For  the  most  part  they  raise  in  stalls  of  liorses 
and  mules.  In  the  spring  time  those  who  move  the  manure  will  see 
many  white  worm  like  beings  about  an  incii  long  with  black  heads. 
These  are  the  house  flies  in  their  pupa  state.  Litter  many  small  fly- 
ing creatures  will  be  seen  in  the  stalls.  These  are  the  young  flies; 
and  half  grown  ones  will  be  seen  in  the  hoiise,  the  new  comers. 

Whether  your  stalls  are  near  or  far,  they  will  natronize  you  any- 
how; and  let  you  be  ever  so  lu^at,  they  will  not  slight  you;  they  will 
m;:!."  t  hcinsclv":'  fnitii-i-'v  anvwa  V.      Whcnllicv   arc    nuniorous    I    do 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  149. 

not  tliink  it  indicutcs  comin,<j'  sickness,  hut  rather  that  they  help  to 
keep  sickness  away. 

But  wlien  the  hornet  wants  some  of  them  to  feed  her  little  ones  oji 
let  her  help  herself,  and  she  will  not  stinj?  you.  The  hornets  and  all 
stiny-inu'  thin<?s  will  he  peacoahle  with  you,  unless  ytni  strike  at  them 
first. 

Some  mi-jht  think  that  poison  is  not  needed  in  the  world,  but  it  is 
used  very  much  both  in  art  and  science.  The  medical  profession  use 
diflerent  kinds  of  poison  to  counteract  diseases  of  certain  forms  ;  thus 
death  is  made,  as  it  wore,  to  minister  to  life. 

Northern  people  think  it  strange  that  southern  people  will  slimu- 
late  themselves  with  coffee.  But  the  people  of  the  tropics  know  that 
it  helps  them  to  resist  malaria,  which  is  more  common  in  hot  coun- 
tries than  in  cold  ones.  And  those  at  the  north  think  it  curious  that 
people  at  the  south  do  not  learn  bett'er  than  to  eat  pork  and  bacon. 
But  experience  has  shown  them  that  such  a  diet  helps  to  resist  the 
unhealthy  elements  unavoidably  taken  into  their  systems  by  inhala- 
lion.  You  can  hardly  poison  a  fat  hog;  and  his  grease  will  effect- 
ually counteract  poison  in  man,  or  others,  properly  used,  and  imme- 
diately. Hog  meat  is  a  helpful  thing  in  30iithern  lands,  a  convenience 
and  a  universal  source  of  happiness. 

When  a  fellow  goes  to  gather  blackberries  and  is  in  a  hurry  and 
the  thorns  stick  in  his  clothes  and  his  hands,  too,  then  he  had  rather 
find  some  without  thorns;  but  if  they  had  no  thorns,  perliaps,  tlie 
animals  would  have  eaten  them  off  so  close  there  would  have  been 
no  berries. 

When  we  consider  the  usefulness  of  everything  in  nature,  and  the 
harmony  that  has  existed  in  her  from  Creation  until  now,  as  is 
revealed  to  us  in  His  "'A'oi'd  and  is  seen  in  the  regular  course  of  prov- 
idence in  all  His  works,  it  is  patent  to  observation  that  it  is  as  the 
Bible  teaches — all  of  Him  that  maketh  all.  God  is  one.  Nature  is 
one.  She  is  a  unity.  If  wc  will  only  think  wo  can  see  a  plenty  of 
Bible  proof  in  our  experience  every  day.  This  wonderful  perfection 
of  being  in  all  nature  producing  such  happy  results  shows  clearly  to 
faith  and  reason  both  the  existence  of  the  all  wise  Architect  and  His 
constant  control  of  all.  The  Bible,  as  every  thinking  person  can  see, 
agrees  with  the  natural  world.  And  science  will  have  to  correspond 
with  the  facts  in  nature ;  and  so  will  philosophy,  too. 

I  want  to  see  them  stretch  themselves  upon  nature  as  she  is.  I 
want  to  see  them  on  parallel  lines  with  nature.  Those  who"  make 
suppositions  to  build  theories  upon  are  as  fungi  on  science  and  phi- 
losopliy,  trying  to  live  at  the  expense  of  learning,  wherejis  they  are 
not  learning  at  all.  If  science  and  philosophy  would  shake  tliem  all 
off  they  would  be  lots  more  thought  of  than  they  are.  These  fungi 
have  been  a  great  damage  to  both  science  and  philosophy.  When 
theology.  Christian  experience  and  morality  are  true  to  the  Bible, 
they  are  right.  So,  when  science  and  philosophy  are  in  accord  with 
nature,  they  will  do;  not  before.  Some  evolutionists  have  supposed 
that  the  relation  that  the  Almighty  sustains  to  nature  is  that  of  soul 
and  body.     If  .so,  liis   body   is   rather  strangely   proportioned;  and 


loU.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

whatever  we  would  be  doinj^^  at  ;>ny  time  to  any  natural  thin<f,  we 
would  be  doing  that  to  a  part  of  God's  body. 

It  is  somewhat  like  the  idea  some  have  advanced,  that  the  soul  of 
man  is  a  part  of  the  Lord.  But  we  sustain  no  such  relation  to  Him. 
I  am  no  part  of  my  earthly  father;  I  can  live  though  ho  be  dead;  I 
can  without  his  death  die.  I  have,  notwithstanding,  the  same  nature 
— soul  and  body — which  he  had  ;  yet  I  am  a  separate  being  from  him. 

God  existed  before  He  created  anything ;  and  could  still  exist  if  Crea- 
tion was  blotted  out.  Creation  added  nothing  to  God's  person  ;  He 
was  perfect  before.  According  to  these  evolutionists  He  would  be 
still  growing,  and  always  rising  higher. 

I  derived  my  being  from  my  father  and  mother,  and  partook  of  the 
complete  nature  of  them  both ;  yet  it  is  through  the  Loi*d,  His  work. 
But  neither  is  my  body,  nor  my  soul,  any  part  of  God.  As  God  is  a 
Spirit,  self-existent;  so  man  is  a  spirit,  created  of  God,  and  depend- 
ent upon  Him.. 

My  father  filled  his  place  while  he  lived  in  this  woi'ld ;  went  away, 
but  left  not  the  world  bereft,  for  six  were  begotten  of  his  soul  and 
body  to  fill  that  nlace  left  vacant  by  his  departure.  They  were  all  in 
his  image,  and  of  their  mother,  too,  but  were  no  part  of  the  persons 
of  their  father  and  mother.  So,  in  a  scriptural  sense,  man's  spirit- 
ual nature  is  in  tlie  similitude  of  God,  but  is  no  part  of  God.  Neither 
is  the  natural  world  His  body;  nor  is,  God  the  soul  of  the  universe. 
It  is  His  Creation.  ITas  ever  been  under  His  control.  And  is  always 
His  care — ever  in  His  keeping. 

When  a  soul  is  regenerated  by  the  Holy  Spirit  it  is  said  to  have  the 
prospect  of  becoming  a  partaker  of»^Divine  nature.  (2  Peter  1 : 1-4). 
But  it  must  mean — not  naturally,  morally  and  spiritually — in  peace, 
joy,  goodness,  love,  kindness,  meekness,  patience,  forgiveness,  beauty 
and  righteousness,  in  a  twofold  sense  are  the  "Sons  of  God."  "The 
eyes  of  the  Lord  rmi  to  and  fro  throughout  tlie  whole  earth."  (2 
Chron.  10  :9).  "Are  in  every  place,  beholding  the  evil  and  the  good." 
(Prov.  15:8).  "His  eyelids  try  the  children  of  men."  (Ps.  11:4).  So 
His  attention  is  ever  upon  the  h'umah  family. 

He  provideth  food  for  the  wild  beasts;  satislieth  the  young  ravens 
when  they  cry;  feeds  the  fish  and  others,  yea,  all  that  are  in  the  sea; 
and  forgetteth  not  the  sparrows.  (St.  Luke  12  :G).  So  He  careth  for 
these — all . 

He  is  in  the  clouds,  the  rain,  the  dew,  the  wind,  tlie  storm,  the 
earthquake,  the  whirlwind,  tlie  snow,  the  hail,  tlie  frost,  the  light- 
ning, 'the  thunder,  the  calm,  the  drouth,  in  plenty,  in  famine,  in 
life,  in  death — everything  we  call  nature,  regular  or  phenomenal,  the 
Scriptures  ascribe  to  the  Loi*d. 

All  miracles  recorded  in  both  Testatnents  are  attributed  to  His 
power.  Nature  never  did  a  miracle.  Therefore,  she  never  could 
evolve 'one  species  of  animals  into  another  species.  That  could  never 
be  done  without  a  miracle,  and  that  the  evolutionists  will  not  allow. 
And  if  she  ever  got  into  the  miraculous  she  could  not  stop — her 
course  is  regular,  permanent — and  that  would  be  more  than  they 
want.  She  never  did  as  they  suppose  she  did.  Such  a  supposition  is 
contrary  to  science  and  philosophy,  as  well  as  contrary  to  all  nature. 


THE  STOIIY  OF  CREATION.  I'A. 

If  no  roiiiaiiis  of  ^^iuiit  inun  are  found  prosorvod — wlioloor  in  part — 
it  is  no  proof  tliaf  such  men  never  lived;  nor  does  it.  prove  tliat  such 
remains  are  not  somewhere  preserved  in  nature.  Occasionally  wo  see 
a  man  that  wei<rhs  four  hundred  pounds.  The  Bil)lc  docs  not  say  how 
heavy  a  p;iant  was.  Perhaps  four  hundred  pounds  would  bo  an  avor- 
a.^'o  woii^lit  for  a  giant  man. 

If  giant  boasts  are  found  in  a  state  of  preservation,  it  is  no  proof 
that  there  were  not  just  as  many  smaller  species  of  animals  then  liv- 
ing as  are  now  living,  and  that  they  died  and  went  to  dust.  And  if 
no  remains  of  the  species  of  animals  now  living  are  found  with  those 
of  old — whether  large  or  small — it  is  no  proof  that  there  arc  not  re- 
mains of  them  preserved  somewhere  in  the  world.  And  the  total 
absence  of  any  of  them  ever  being  found  will  furnish  no  proof  that 
their  species  did  not  live  all  along  in  time  with  those  whose  remains 
are  found  preserved.  For  according  to  God's  decree,  they  died  and 
their  remains  decomposed — returned  to  the  earth  again.  And  why 
all  this  effort  on  the  part  of  tliese  writers  but  to  have,  as  it  seems, 
mankind  to  turn  away  their  belief  from  the  perfect  and  beautiful 
system  of  all  nature,  as  she  is  today,  as  the  Creator  has  given  us  the 
genesis  of  in  His  Holy  Word,  to  an  ugly  monsti'osity  they  try  to 
chain  together,  and  in  their  vanity  call  it  a  grand  system  of  life; 
which  when  compared  to  nature  is  a  batch  of  heterodoxes. 

Xature  herself  as  she  is  today  is  a  gi'and  system  of  life,  and  has 
ever  been  as  pretty  and  as  perfect  since  her  Creator  pronoun(;ed  her 
"very  good,  (Gen.  1  :B1).  a  linished  Creation,  and  dismissed  her  from 
creative  hands,  as  she  is  now.  She  has  held  and  still  holds  her  own. 
Since  man  sinned  in  personification  she  inay  be  said  to  groan  together 
in  pain  and  travail,  to  be  delivered,  not  of  a  child  of  evolution;  but 
to  1)0  liberated  from  the  effects  of  siii  perpetrated  upon  her  by  unin- 
vifcil  hands,  against  her  will.     (Rom.  8:22). 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

EPILOGUE. 


X 


I  BELIEVE,  as  I  understand  the  Bible  to  teach,  that  He  created  on 
the  first  day,  at  its  beginning,  the   earth   and  all   of  her  attendant, 
worlds,  in  their  chaotic   bulks.     Ran  them  that  day  in  void  space,     ^,-v 
without  atmosphere^and   without  a   firmamcnit;   holding  His  direct 
power  Ln  reserve  against  all  emergoiicies. 

The  next  day  provided  atmosjiheros   atid   skies    for  them    all,  and 
fixed  the  expansion  of  the  firmament  to  occupy   all   spaces   between 
•the  revolving  bodies,  putting  them  all  in  charge  to   do    His  will    in 
their  respect. ive  places. 

The  day  following  He  broke  up  tjie  surf:;ci'  of  the  earih  into  hills, 
ridges,  table  lands,  and  mountains,  valleys  and  plains;  so  as  the  dry 
land  might  bo  permanently  flivided  from  tiio  water,  and  watered  as 
need  rofiitired  ))y  bodies,  and  streams  of  water,  vapors,  dews  and 
rain,  according  to  the  nature  of  every  climate;  as  Ho  after  maiTs 
fall  reafljiistod  it  all  to  answer  the  best  purposes  under  the  now  regime 
under  wJiich  ho  w:is  then   brought  on  account  of  his  changed  nature 


15t>.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

iind  outward  conditions,  so  as  to  answer  all  liis  pitrposos,  and  man's 
nocd,  convenicnco  and  comfort,  as  his  g'cnei-ations  should  require  for 
their  happiness. 

How  far  He  may  have  then  carried  other  spheres  through  a  similar 
process  we  cannot  tell.  But  as  they  are  found  to  have  uneven  sur- 
faces, I  think  that  is  the. most  probable  time  when  it  was  done. 
Astronomy  teaches  that  the  planets,  for  the  most  part,  have  atmos- 
pheres and  uneven  surfaces  of  hills,  ridges,  valleys  and  mountains. 
The  former  idea  that  their  basins  are  filled  with  water  is  given  up. 

They  tell  us  therejio  man  in  the  moon — that  no  kind  of  animals 
could  live  there.  That  it  is  too  hot  in  the  climate  of  Mercury  for_any 
to  live  tliere — tliat  the  heat  of  the  sun  has  dried  up  his  atmosphere, 
if  he  ever  had  any — which  is  probable. 

They  have  never  seen  any  love  matches  made  on  Venus.  Nor  any 
worshippers  of  Jupiter  on  Jupiter's  shores  worshipping  Jupiter, 
Neither  any  wars  on  the  v/ar  god  Mars. 

But  it  is  said  there  are  mountains  and  valleys  on  all  of  these  and, 
perhaps,  on  others.  The  Creator  saw  they  would  be  needed  there. 
That  is  the  reason  they  are  there.  If  I  understand  them  aright  their 
office  is  to  serve  us  in  some  way  or  other.  With  uneven  surfaces 
they  could  absorb  more  heat  through  the  day  from  the  sun,  retain  it 
longer,  and  reflect  it  upon  the  earth  by  night,  which  is  important  to 
tlie  full  production  of  the  earth,  as  cotton  planters  find  by  experi- 
ence and  observation  that  warm  nights  are  essential  to  the  proper 
development  of  cotton,  both  plant  and  fiber,  and  that  it  grows  most 
at  night. 

It  explains,  too,  a  promise  in  the  Bible  marie  to  the  righteous.  (Ps. 
121  :H.)  "The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day,  nor  the  moon  by 
night.''  Travelers  say  at  the  equator  in  time  of  the  full  moon  it  is 
necessary,  if  you  have  no  l)etter  protection,  to  hold  an  umbrella  over 
your  head  at  night  to  avoid  moon  stroke. 

Then  on  the  fourth  day  He  made  the  sun  the  center  of  light  and 
heat  to  us  and  to  all  parts  of  our  solar  system.  He  was  brought 
through  an  experience  thus  long  to  qualify  him  for  this  office  before 
he  was  trusted  witli  it. 

There  was  a  supreme  moment  for  every  step  to  be  taken  by  the 
Creator  before  He  took  it.  At  that  moment  He  commanded  and  it 
was  instantly  done  according  to  His  will.  I  do  not  believe  He  waited 
for  results  from  either  glacial  or  molten  conditions,  but  when  He  had 
brought  nature  into  a  proper  condition  for  it  to  be  done,  He  did  it  at 
oncQ,  within  the  given  time  mentioned  in  His  own  account  of  Creation. 

The  moon  received  her  peculiar  powers  on  that  day,  and  the  stars 
likewise,  in  regard  to  the  amount  of  light  and  heat  they  reflect  upon* 
us  from  the  sun,  and  whatever  influence  they  may  have  upon  our 
weather  and  seasons. 

When  the' earth  was  ready  for  vegetation,  He  caused  her  to  vege- 
tate, a.nd  to  produce  food  for  that  coming  host  of  life  that  was  to 
occupy  her  surface.  When  He  had  prepai-ed  the  waters  to  produce 
and  to  sustain  life  in  all  of  its  various  i'orms  that  were  to  occupy  the 
waters,  He  commanded  the  waters  and  they  brought  forth  all  the 
forms  of  life,  in  adult  state,  or  they  rapidly  came  to   it,  which   Ho 


THE  STOKV  OF  CREATION.  l.'vl. 

intended  to  live  in  or  al)out  the  waters  of  the  whole  earth,  after  tlieir 
kinds — on  the  fifth  day — and  flying  fowl  for  sea  and  for  land. 

By  the  sixth  day,  the  earth  l)eing  ready  for  her  animal  life,  and 
being  in  a  state,  too,  to  produee  them.  He  eommandod  her  to  bring 
them  forth,  and  she  obeyed.  It  was  done  at  onee  and  in  a  perfect 
manner.  None  of  their  descendants  today  are  more  beautiful  nor 
more  perfect  than  they.  And  when  the  acme  of  time  had  cf)me.  He 
produced  the  highest  product — num — on  tlie  sixth  day.  And  last  of 
all,  when  all  the  lights  of  Heaven  were  ready,  and,  too,  all  the  beau- 
ties, and  all  the  sweets  of  Eden's  garden,  and  Adam  tired  of  wailing. 
He  l)rought  in  the  l)ride.  No  man  is  properly  made,  and  finishefl, 
and  prepared  for  his  life  work  until  he  finds  his  bride..  It  is  the  fin- 
ishing stroke  of  all  his  preparations  for  living.  On  that  selfsame  day 
He  made  the  woman  ;  made  her  out  of  the  man.  The  coup  de  grace 
of  all  Oreation. 

Then  He  ordained  marriage  for  the  mutual  comfort  of  them  both. 
Ami  the  Sabbath  for  their  supreme  happiness.  And  without  these 
two  things  their  children  cannot  till  their  mission  on  earth  and  be 
agreeable  to  His  will;  who  is  also  their  Creator.  An  adult  man  with 
a  natural  body  and  a  nornuil  mind  has  no  more  right  to  neglect  to 
marry,  nor  fail  to  keep  the  Sabbath,  than  a  horse  has  to  go  unbridled 
in  a  civilized  country.  Let  any  one  try  to  reason  out  Oreation  with- 
out the  Bible,  such  a  one  will  not  fail  to  get  lost  on  it.  If  he  is  hon- 
est he  will  be  obliged  to  end  in  a  first  cause.  What  is  that  first 
cause  of  all  things?  Is  it  matter?  Could  she  with  no  intelligence 
shape  herself  as  she  is,  and  produce  the  effects  we  see  all  around  us? 

See  the  earth  as  if  she  was  moving  with  an  intelligent  view  which 
the  wisest  of  her  sons  cannot  imitate.  If  their  wi-sdom  should  advise 
her  differently  she  would,  as  it  were,  laugh  them  to  scorn.  All  of 
their  counsel  cannot  help  her  in  the  least.  She  seems  to  have  in  her 
course  a  wisdom  far  above  that  of  man,  and  a  power  that  bids  defi- 
ance to  all  that  he  can  do.  If  allowed  to  exert  herself  a  little  she 
could  shake  them  all  off,  or  swallow  them  up — quickly  at  that. 

The  courses  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  altogether,  often  appear  as  a 
tangled  maze,  but  each  makes  it  way  through  without  any  accident 
to  any  one  of  them.  Within  the  history  of  num's  knowledge  there 
has  not  been  a  single  collision  among  any  of  them.  Often  in  the  his- 
tory of  astronomy  it  has  appeared  that  an  approaching  comet  would 
strike  us,  but  she  has  as  often  sweetly  glided  by  us  and  we  didn't 
even  hear  "the  music  of  the  spheres."  How  is  it  that  inanimate 
nature  can  do  things  outstretching  the  highest  wisdom  of  man?  We 
are  obliged  to  ascribe  it  to  the  Creator  of  all.  who  some  way  or  other 
is  in  all,  and  controls  all;  especially  irresponsible  nature. 

No  man  could  thus  construct  a  piece  of  machinery;  so  well  lial- 
anced,  running  so  smoothly,  that  tliose  riding  on  it  would  be  uncon- 
scious of  any  motion;  running  i)erpetually  in  that  high  degree  of 
inimital)le  perfection.  How  could  blind  matter,  utu-ontrolled  by 
superior  intelligence,  so  construct  itself  as  to  do  thai  which  all  the 
ingenuity  of  men  dare  not  hope  to  do? 

If  any  man  will  consider  the  sexual  lawswliich  prevail  throughout 
all  nature,  and  the  desire  every  creature  has  for  the  opposite  sex   in 


154.  THE  STOKY  OF  CREATION. 

its  own  species,  the  enjoyment  between  the  8excs,  with  the  results 
in  every  living  thing  in  all  the  earth,  he  will  clearly  see  that  it  can- 
not be  by  any  merely  fortuitous  conditions  in  nature ;  but  resulting 
from  the  highest  intelligence,  and  from  a  powder  that  is  supernatural. 
And  think  how  happily  these  principles  have  worked  in  all  from  the 
earliest  information  we  have  on  the  subject  iinto  this  present;  it 
shows,  as  the  Bible  declares,  a  supernatural  Creation  for  the  first  of 
all  the  species  now  living,  and  descending  from  them ;  and  a  super- 
natural superintendence  over  them  all,  all  along  through  past  time 
from  the  sixth  day  of  Creation  until  now.  And  which  is  destined  to 
continue  upon  the  same  original  lines  without  any  evolutionary 
changes,  through  all  time  to  come.  As  there  never  have  been  any 
evolutionary  changes  in  any  of  them,  so  there  never  will  be.  It  is  of 
itself  clear  proof  of  a  continual  providence  at  the  head  over  all. 

After  a  long  process  of  reasoning  by  some  philosophers,  they  have 
said  they  believe  that  the  earth  will  some  day  go  to  destruction  of 
herself.  Without  any  reasoning  upon  the  subject  the  Bible  declares 
as  a  revelation  from  God  that  the  earth  is  to  be  destroyed  at  the  end 
of  time.  (Ps.  102  :25-26,  Heb.  1 :10-12).  I  have  no  fear  of  her  going 
to  pieces  of  herself;  neither  of  a  comet  striking  her;  nor  of  any  other 
sphere  colliding  with  her;  nor  of  the  excavators  cutting  her  to  pieces. 
But  when  she  ends  it  will  be  as  the  Scriptures  describe. 

And  whether  it  be  philosophical  or  scriptural,  it  is  my  interest  and 
it  is  also  your  interest  to  be  ready  for  it. 

When  she  shall  have  filled  the  mission  her  Creator  designed  for  her 
to  fill,  and  she  is  ripo  for  her  change,  it  will  come.  It  will  come 
whether  men  are  ready  for  it  or  not.  Whether  it  be  at  hand,-  or  afar 
off,  it  is  our  interest — supremest  interest — to  be  prepared  for  it. 

Whether  we  shall  be  able  to  hold  our  present  status  until  the  fear- 
ful, or  happy,  day  shall  come  or  not;  if  we  are  prepared  to  sign  the 
papers  when  the  last  summons  shall  be  sent  to  each  of  us,  we  shall 
be  prepared  to  meet  all  else  that  may  follow. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

APPLICATION. 


If  we  were  to  compare  some  of  these  writers  to  the  ancient  heathen 
philosopliers  these  would  be  less  excusable  than  those,  for  those 
seemed  to  be  feeling  after  Cfod,  while  these  seem  to  want  to  get  as  far 
away  from  Plim  as  possible.  But  they  will  luive  to  face  Him.  Then 
that  which  is  written  will  be  fulfilled  in  them.     (Prov.  1 :24:-81). 

If  their  principles  should  prevail  our  government  would  be  weaker 
than  the  Roman  and  Greek  governments  of  old.  For  they  could 
bind  the  conscience  of  their  people  by  their  supposed  gods.  But 
according  to  these  we  would  not  have  anything  at  all  to  swear  by; 
for  the  ultimate  of  their  teaching  is  to  rule  Him  out  entirely. 
Whereas  the  Scripture  enjoins  upon  us  to  swear  by  the  Lord ;  and  to 
forswear  one's  self  by  His  name  is  set  forth  in  the  Bible  as  an  awful 
crime. 

You  might  be  fooled  if  you  tliink  a  sense   of  h.onor  would  restrain 


THE  STORY  OF  OIIEATION.  1:%). 

men  from  the  wrong.  For  if  yoii  luko  away  the  fear  of  tlie  Lord  from 
before  their  eyes,  belief  in  the  human  soul  and  its  accountability  to 
God,  a  sense  of  honor  is  gone. 

Our  mercantile  business  could  no  longer  be  carried  on  as  it  is,  nor 
other  business  ti'cin suctions  among  men,  if  it  were  not  for  the  hon- 
esty, truth  and  honor  there  is  among  us;  and  these  principles  come 
from  Ohrist^ian  influences. 

Any  person,  therefore,  who  tries  to  exert  an  influence  against 
Christianity  is  so  far  against  the  interest,  the  best  interest,  of  his 
country.     Such  cannot,  therefore,  be  true  patriots. 

These  very  teachers  who  want  our  youth  and  childhood  to  J^olieve 
■  the  things  they  teach,  if  their  patrons  believed  them,  they  would  have 
no  assurance  of  pay  for  their  w^ork.  If  they  only  knew  it,  as  far  as 
tlieir  teaching  can  prevail,  it  is  against  their  secular  interest — which 
is  the  supreme — it  seems,  with  them.  But  happily  for  themselves,  as 
well  as  for  the  rest,  their  teaching  does  not  prevail. 

jSTow  they  want  to  teach  all  these  errors  in  all  of  our  state  univer- 
sities, and  their  branches,  and  in  all  of  our  public  schools.  And  are 
making  the  effort  by  putting  in  the  textbooks  all  the  hypotheses  in 
the  different  branches  of  science.  It  is  against  the  state  for  it  to  be 
done,  for  it  leads  to  atheism. 

Atheism  is  against  any  government  from  the  fact  you  can't  bind 
the  conscience.  It  has  nothing  to  swear  by.  Oath  of  allegiance,  of 
office,  of  jurors  and  witnesses  would  be  of  no  force.  Of  course  a 
Quaker's  affirmation  is  made  in  the  belief  and  in  the  fear  of  that  God 
whom  atheiats  deny.  Therefore,  for  the  state  to  teach  atheism,  is 
for  the  state  to  cut  her  ovrn  throat. 

Ko  Christian  dejiomination  is  allowed  to  teach  sectarianism  in  any 
school  under  the  control  of  the  state.  It  is  uo  more  constitutional 
nor  right  to  allow  the  principles  of  atheism  to  be  taught  in  our  pub- 
lic schools,  state  universities,  or  any  of  their  branches,  or  any  insti- 
tution fostered  by  the  state.  They  are  wanting  to  do,  and  trying  to 
do  it,  chmdestinely  under  the  name  of  science.  It  is  not  at  all  safe 
for  the  state  to  suff'er  her  school  books  impregnated  with  errors  under 
the  various  names  of  the  different  branches  of  science  taught  in  these 
sciiools.  That  is  just  what  they  are  trying  to  do,  to  lead  the  people 
into  atheism.  Poisoning  the  text  books  with  these  errors  under  the 
color  of  teaching  science — "the  sciences." 

I  think  it  would  be  a  less  evil  to  teach  it  straight  out.  Then  the 
people  would  understand  what  they  are  doing,  and  would  be  better 
prepared  to  counteract  the  evil  influence  it  has  upon  their  children. 

If  the  atheists  want  to  teach  their  tenets,  let  them  do  as  all  others 
have  to  do — support  themselves.  We  cannot  afford  to  support  them 
through  the  state.  They  are  not  fair,  they  want  to  spread  their 
principles  all  over  our  country,  and  do  it  at  our  expense,  too. 

They  are  being  supported  now  by  tha.t  patronage  the  governments 
give  to  science.  It  is  so.in  all  governments  that  give  public  patron- 
age to  science.  And  now  they  are  trying  in  thi---  way  to  get  control 
of  all  education.  And  of  course  the  people  are  taxed  to  support  them  ; 
and  they  are  v.'orking  against  the  best  interest  of  the  people  and  the 
government  that  is  supporting  them.     The  people  support  them   in 


156.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

all  civilized  countries  in  that  way  'in  the  general  patronage  of  the 
governments  to  education,  and  especially  to  science. 

If  it  is  constitutional  to  exclude  Chinese  from  settling  in  our  coun- 
try, it  is  much  more  so  to  keep  atheistical  principles  from  settling  in 
our  books  to  he  used  in  our  state  universities  and  other  schools  under 
state  control;   if  it  is  claimed  to  be  science. 

Atheism  is  an  intruder  in  the  temple  of  science.  The  keepers  of 
that  temple  should  purge  it  out.  If  they  don't  the  Son  of  God  Him- 
self will  cleanse  that  temple.  He  will  do  it,  too,  in  a  way  they  least 
expect.  He  will  cause  those  governments  that  have  been  supporting 
them  to  withhold  their  patronage.  The  votes  of  the  people,  though 
they  drop  as  noiselessly  as  autumn  leaves,  will  do  it.  For  that  tern-- 
pie  will  have  to  be  cleansed.  God  will  have  it  done.  He  has  waited 
on  them  a  great  while,  but  will  not  wait  much  longer.  The  time  of 
her  purification"  is  close  at  hand. 

Pure  science  is  a  good  thing — deserves  to  be  honored  by  all — but 
atheism,  or  infidelity — under  the  name  of  science,  is  worse  than  use- 
less; it  is  a  foe  to  all  our  best  interests.  It  is  no  safe  thing  to  have 
either  embedded  in  our  educational  system.  If  we  do,  it  is  no  diffi- 
cult matter  to  foresee  the  result.  Nothing  but  an  overruling  provi- 
dence could  prevent  the  dreadful  catastrophe  in  morals,  in  society 
and  government,  and  commerce  of  all  kinds  which  would  follow.  But 
Providence  expects  us  to  help  the  situation  ourselves,  while  we  can. 

We  should  not  harden  our  hearts  in  the  day  of  provocation,  by 
neglecting  our  duty,  (Ps.  95:7-8  and  Heb.  8:7-8).  The  American  peo- 
ple hear  that  voice  of  warning  today,  and  they  will  obey.  When 
they  shall  have  obeyed,  God  will  turn  all  the  opposition  to  their 
good;  and  the  truth  will  triumph  as  not  before.  These  very  fellow 
citizens  could  not  blame  them,  for  they  will  teach  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  all  persons  to  protect  themselves  and  their  own  interest.  But  the 
trouble  with  some  people  is,  they  take  so-called  scientific  statements 
for  granted  as  true,  without  thinking  whether  thej'  can  be  true  or 
not.  Credulity  should  always  have  a  good  foundation  to  stand  upon  ; 
but  the}'  will  wake  up.  When  you  touch  a  man's  pocket  you  get 
close  to  him.  They  will  not  much  longer  allow  their  taxes  to  be  used 
against  themselves  and  their  children. 

These  evil  designers  are  now  working  with  covered  hands,  thinking 
in  this  way  they  will  raise  up  a  generation  of  atheists,  then  they  will 
be  bold ;  but  the  prophets  are  not  all  dead.  The  people  will  see,  and 
they  will  look  after  their  own  interest. 

It  is  obvious  that  there  is  an  effort  on  the  part  of  infidels  and  athe- 
ists to  get  control  of  the  education  in  all  civilized  countries,  for  the 
purpose  of  overthrowing  civilization.  But  if  they  could  succeed,  they 
woiild  not  get  what  they  think  they  would,  for  they  would  not  be  long 
in  discovering  the  fact  of  their  own  heads  being  in  danger. 

Intelligent  people,  though,  will  not  suffer  their  happy  institutions 
undermined  in  that  stealthy  way,  by  men,,  who  on  the  surface,  for- 
sooth, appear  to  be  friends,  yet  at  heart  are  enemies  to  the  best  inter- 
est of  the  people.  And  so  is  their  teaching,  "for  out  of  the  abund- 
ance of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh,  (Matt.  12:8-1). 

It  is  obvious,  so  I  think,  at  least,  that  the  bad  are,  under  the  name 


THE  STORY  OF  CJREATION.  157. 

of  science,  trying  to  get  control  of  the  minds  of  the  youth  and  of  the 
children  by  poisoning  the  school  books.  In  the  name  of  science  they 
think  to  fool  the  slate  and  the  church  both.  And  make  them  both 
pay  for  it  to  be  done,  at  that. 

Thei'e  is  great  need  of  knowhig  what  is  taught  in  our  schools. 
State  education  has  its  good,  and  also  its  bad  features.  There  is  dan- 
ger in  it  to  society,  and  unfairness  to  the  people  at  large.  Never  was 
the  need  of  denominational  schools,  of  all  grades,  so  pressing  as  now. 
They  are  the  counteracting  forces  against  the  evils  fi-om  the  source 
of  errors  I  have  been  speaking  of.  Our  country  can  scarcely  stand 
without  them. 

Perhaps  why  some  will  patronize  scientific — so-called — infidelity 
and  atheism,  is  because  they  are  afraid,  in  certain  circles,  they  will 
not  be  pronounced  learned,  if  they  don't.  But  a  string  of  guesses  is 
no  learning  at  all ;  it  is  no  science.  Nothing  is  science,  unless  it  is 
supported  by  facts. 

The  atheists  are  trying  to  corrupt  all  sciences  and  history  with 
their  principles,  and  to  get  all  the  patronage  they  can  from  all  gov- 
ernments; and  at  the  same  time  to  weaken  by  taxation,  and  every 
way  they  can,  Christian  education.  Claim  it  is  sectarian,  and  theirs 
is  broad ;  whereas  theirs  is  the  narrowest  and  shortest  of  any.  It  is 
expressed  in  the  fewest  words.  And  they  have  to  sink  themselves 
down  to  the  last  link  of  any  chain  that  can  be  invented  before  they 
will  be  base  enough  to  utter  it.     (Ps.  58  :1). 

If  I  were  to  invent  a  chain  of  evolution  I  would  rise  until  I  got  to 
the  Almighty.  Man  came  from  God  ;  and  shall  go  to  God.  He  first 
descended,  N^as  to  ascend.  Christ  descended,  then  ascended.  His 
followers  shall  ascend  by  Him.     And  be  with  Him. 

Some  people  postpone  teaching  their  children  anything  that  is 
good,  thinking  it  will  paj^  better  later  on  ;  but  when  they  begin  they 
find  so  much  unlearning  to  do,  it  is  difficult  to  make  any  progress  in 
their  undertaking.  So  when  the  children  are  returned  home  from 
those  schools  where  they  have  learned  errors  it  will  only  be  the  harder 
to  learn  them  the  truths,  which  stand  over  against  those  errors,  than 
if  they  had  never  learned  the  errors. 

We  know  the  same  is  true  in  regard  to  learning  bad  habits ;  or  any 
kind  of  wrong  actions;  or  wicked  words  either.  Now,  to  redeem  them 
from  any  of  these  evils  will  be  an  uncertain  affair. 

These  are  some  of  their  mothods  to  deceive :  in  speaking  of  a  form- 
ation of  any  matter,  as  a  bed  of  I'ocks,  or  other  earthly  material,  they 
will  say  this  is  recent.  Now  they  do  not  mean  what  is  meant  in  com- 
mon language  by  recent,  but  what  the  Higher  Critics  would  consider 
exceedingly  ancient.  And  all  those  fabulously  long  periods  of  time 
they  claim  that  the  earth  has  passed  through,  are  utterly  without 
any  proof  in  nature;  and  change  in  species,  in  their  slow  process  of 
evolutionary  system  for  all  nature;  and  classifying  man  with  apes 
and  monkeys.  The  design  of  all  which  is  to  teach  there  was  no  Crea- 
tion, man  has  no  Hevenly  Father,  no  immortal  spirit,  no  future  after 
this  life.  That  there  is  no  God.  Therefore  we  need  not  fear  His  laws 
and  penalties.     That  everything  religious  is  only  superstitious.    And 


158.  THE  STOEY  OF  CEEATION. 

laere  they  stand  on  ground  they  protest  against;   for  they  all  believe 
in  fate.     They  are  really  superstitious,  therefore. 

Thus  under  the  j^retenee  of  teaching  science  ;  in  the  name  of  science 
tliey  try  to  destroy  tlie  foundations  of  human  happiness,  and  put  all 
government  in  jeopardy.  They  do  it  in  teaching  natural  history, 
comparative  anatomy,  zoology,  biolog>^and  geology;  in  the  so-called 
system  of  evolution  they  are  trjnng  to  run  through  all  these  branches 
of  science,  in  order  to  raise  up  a  generation  of  atheists.  Even  the 
ancient  celestial  science — astronomy — is  being  polluted  by  their 
so-called  evolutionary  system. 

Xow  all  tliese  things  are  to  be  taught  in  our  common  schools,  and 
all  schools,  under  state  control ;  and  school  books  fixed  up  by  their 
agents  with  all  these  errors  in  them,  wliether  the  people  want  it  so 
or  not;  and  they  aim  for  us  all  to  be  taxed  to  pay  for  it.  They  think 
the  state  officials  will  not  pay  any  attention  to  these  things,  that 
they  will  adopt  the  books  called  "up  to  date,"  and  rale  oxit  all  others  ; 
and  then,  they  will  have  it  all  their  own  way.  In  this  sly  way  they 
think  they  will  succeed  in  their  evil  design. 

There  ought  to  be  a  revisal  of  all  tlie  books  on  these  branches  of 
learning,  and  all  the  errors  purged  out  of  them.  And  none  allowed 
to  be  used  in  school  except  those  that  are  entirely  free  from  every- 
thing that  is  liypotJietical ;  and  nothing  to  be  taught  in  any  state 
school  but  wliat  is  known  to  be  true. 

It  would  be  far  better  to  teach  only  that  which  is  true,  practical 
and  useful  to  tlie  learner  in  life.  One  of  tlie  faults  of  the  present 
system  of  teaching,  both  in  America  and  in  Europe,  is  that  they 
crowd  too  many  studies  upon  the  pupils.  The  result  is  they  only  get 
confused  ideas  of  them  all  and  accurate  knowledge  of  none.  The 
people  are  tired  of  it,  too.  They  want  a  reform.  Tliey  think  this 
crowding  is  all  in  the  pecuniar}^  interest  of  those  who  teach.  Let  any 
man  look  at,  and  think  of  the  manj^  things  embraced  in  the  curricula 
of  the  institutions  of  learning  today,  and  it  will  not  appear  at  all  rea- 
sonable for  the  pupils  to  become  sufficiently  well  acquainted  with 
them — in  the  time  allowed — so  as  to  make  any  practical  use  of  them 
all.  How  much  more  unreasonable,  then,  to  be  wasting  time  study- 
ing that  which  is  only  conjectural.  Which  never  can  be  proven  to  be 
true;  and  would  be  of  no  use  to  them  if  it  could. 

After  their  school  days  are  over,  if  they  want  to  study  speculative 
science,  or  speculative  philosophy,  let  them  do  so  at  their  own 
expense;  but  it  is  not  just  to  take  the  people's  money  to  pay  for 
such  as  that.  They  cannot  fairly  be  included  in  education  anyway. 
For  nothing  is  education  that  cannot  be  put  to  a  practical  use.  All, 
therefore,  that  is  hypothetical,  or  conjectural,  in  any  book  on  science 
or  philosophy,  is  not  any  part  of  education  ;  and  could  not  be  allowed 
in  any  state  school  if  the  laws  of  education  were  appealed  to,  to  keep 
Ihem  out.  The  proper  thing  to  do  is  to  have  all  the  text-books — for 
all  public  schools,  of  all  grades,  belonging  to  the  state — on  tlie  differ- 
ent branches  of  science  and  philosophy,  revised  by  competent  com- 
mittees, with  instructions  to  leave  out  everything  which  is  not 
demonstrably  true. 

In  some  of  the  late  encyclopaedias  tlierc  seems  to  be  a  bias   in   the 


L  i  l}.\  \-PrJ  ^I&^  ^oJnL  I.. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  159. 

editors  in  favor  of  all  the  false  theories  1  have  mentioned  in  rej^'ard  to 
man's  place  in  nature,  and  the  collaterals,  they  use  as  a  pretext  to 
bring  out  their  main  pointft;  which  is  this,  as  they  say,  Darwin  de- 
clined to  publish  all  his  conclusions  for  fear  it  would  raise  too  much 
opposition;  but  that  Huxley  stated  the  ultimate  outcome  of  the 
Darwinian  theory,  which  they  say  is  this,  "the  descent  of  man  from 
the  apes."'  I  have  believed  all  the  while  that  it  was  a  wicked  inven- 
tion gotten  up  among  them  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  that  wicked 
thing.  I  do  not  mean  to  be  severe ;  I  know  I  do  not  feel  that  waj'. 
But  as  one  that  loves  the  whole  of  humankind,  I  would  do  them 
good.  Nor  have  I  anything  to  say  against  philosophy,  or  science 
either;  they  are  two  things  I  love  and  enjoy,  and  am  thankful  for  all 
the  help  they  have  been  to  mankind.  I  only  mean  those  things  which 
falsely  bear  those  names. 

As  to  man's  place  in  nature,  the  Biljle  teaches  us  that  he  is  alto- 
gether, outwardly,  inwardly,  mentally  and  morally,  spiritually 
included,  an  independent  species.  That  he  is  one  species,  and  nature 
bears  witness  to  it  everywhere.  So  does  reason,  common  sense  and 
daily  observation.  The  Scripture  teaches  that  the  Lord  made  him 
by  nature  above  all  the  rest;  and  all  on  earth  madQ  under  dominion 
to  him,  and  are  his  subjects.  We  see  evidently  not  only  from  the 
Bible,  but  from  experience,  that  they  are  all  to  serve  us.  All  are 
yours.     (1  Cor.  3:21-22,  Gen.  9:23). 

EXD  OF  PART  TWO. 


160.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

PART  THREE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

l^yiOTH  history  and  civilization  are  sustained  in  the  Bible  in  antiq- 
ISl  uity.  There  was  a  light  shinin,^  through  the  ages,  dispersing 
the  darkness  all  around  it.  That  light  was  the  Holy  Bible.  And  Christ 
was  in  it,  "the  light  of  the  world."  Let  men  admit  this:  then  their 
troubles,  of  this  nature,  vanish. 

Christopher  Wm.  Kosh,  in  his  French  History,  pages  32  and  83, 
admits  that  "the  books  of  Moses  and  of  the  Jews  are  the  only  relia- 
ble history  we  have  from  Creation  on  until  634  years  before  the  birth 
of  Jesus  Christ."  The  Bible  truly  guides  us  back  safely  to  the  begin- 
ning of  mankind,  of  the  world  and  of  time.  Nevertheless,  in  the  face 
of  all  this,  there  are  some  writers  who  speak  of  prehistoric  times,  and 
of  the  dawn  of  civilization. 

That,  I  suppose,  will  do  for  those  who  never  had  the  opportunity 
to  know  better.  .The  well-informed,  however,  know  there  are  in  that 
statement  of  these  writers,  either  two  willful  errors  set  forth,  or  two 
innocent  mistakes  made.  It  is  at  least  a  very  humiliating  acknowl- 
edgement of  ignorance  of  antiquity  for  learning  to  have  to  make. 

^A'ith  the  help  of  the  Bible,  we  trace  human  history  and  civiliza- 
tion, through  all  the  ages,  clear  back  to  Creation's  beginning.  It  is 
true,  pure  and  good ;  gives  us  a  wealth  of  knowledge  nowhere  else 
obtained.     It  is  indeed  an  invaluable  legacy  of  true  learning. 

The  world  began  in  civilization  ;  of  course  the  Almighty  is  not 
responsible  for  anything  to  the  contrary.  The  man  and  the  woman 
He  created  were  not  like  the  fictitious  man  of  the  evolutionists — a 
savage — and  had  to  remain  so  for  indefinite  centuries  before  he  could 
invent  any  civilization,  but  were  created  and  made  in  a  civilized 
state. 

There  is  the  beginning  of  history.  The  Creator  kept  a  diary  of  all 
the  proceedings  in  this  world  until  man  was  prepared  to  write  his  own 
history.  From  the  first  Sabbath  on,  man  has  been  able  to  keep  his 
own  history.  By  the  help  of  the  Lord  he  did  it  well.  The  Creator, 
doubtless,  gave  to  Adam  all  the  proceedings  when  He  had  sufficiently 
prepared  him  to  carry  it  forward,  under  the  help  He  afforded  him, 
and  his  descendants  after  him.  Nor  is  it  at  all  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  He  would  suffer  His  first  earthly  heir  to  live  930  years  without 
teaching  him  to  write  the  events  of  his  own  life.  It  had  to  come 
from  the  Lord,  "the  light  of  the  world,"  and  the  strongest  supposi- 
tion is,  that  He  w^ould  teach  it  to  him  at  his  earliest  need.  Neither 
is  it  at  all  probable  that  such  a  man  as  the  Bible  teaches  us  that 
Adam  was,  could  have  lived  so  long  as  he  did  without  discovering 
some  method  of  writing. 

It  is  evident  that  they  did,  in  some  way,  preserve  the  facts  recor- 
ded in  the  Bible.  Every  useful  art,  every  useful  craft,  every  useful 
invention,  every  useful  contrivance,  is  of  the  Lord,  who  teaches  man 
wisdom.        There    is   a   spirit   in    man    and   the    inspiration    of   the 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  KM. 

Alini^fhty  p,iv('th  him  understandiii<?,  (Job.  82:8).  The  farmer  under- 
stands all  these  thins>-s,  for  his  God  doth  teach  him  discretion,  (Is.  28  : 
2(5).  "It  is  He  that  giveth  thee  power  to  get  wealth,'"  (i)ent.  8:18). 
These  very  writers  speak  of  an  iron  age  as  evidence  of  a  high  state  of 
civilization. 

Now,  as  they  would  say,  in  a  short  period  of  time  after  man  came 
upon  the  earth,  there  was  a  high  state  of  civilization.  At  the  most, 
perhaps,  not  more  than  four  hundred  years  after  the  creation  of  man, 
((ren. -4  :22).  They  then  used  brass  and  iron.  Made  tools  of  them. 
Sharpened  and  whetted  tools  made  of  these  metals.  Studied,  taught 
and  XDracticed  artifices  in  these  metals.  Made  harps  and  organs  of 
them.  According  to  the  writers  referred  to  above,  the.y  were  then  in  a 
high  state  of  civilization.  And  the  history  of  that  civilization  is 
written  in  the  Bible. 

The  religious  vein  of  it  is  well  represented  in  such  great  names  as 
Seth,  Enos,  Enoch  and  Noah. 

The  fact  that  tlie  last  generation  before  the  flood  was  wicked, 
excejit  Xoah  and  his  family,  is  no  more  proof  against  their  civiliza- 
tion than  is  the  wickedness  of  these  times  against  our  civilization. 
You  may  ask  then,  why  did  God  punish  them,  and  why  does  He  not 
now  destroy  us?  You  will  notice,  if  you  study  the  Bible,  that  He 
visited  the  head  sin  in  all  lines  with  signal  punishments  as  warning 
to  all  who  might  come  after.  See  what  sufferings  He  entailed  upon 
Adam  and  Eve.  They  and  their  own  children  were  punished  greatly, 
and  all  that  have  ever  been  born  of  them  through  their  descendants 
have,  and  do  suffer  from  it.  No  other  sin  ever  had  such  universal 
penalties  inflicted  for  it.  See  how  severely  He  punished  Cain  for  his 
sin,  the  first  murder.  His  whole  family  suffered  for  it  a  long  while. 
See  how  much  He  punished  Xoah  and  his  family  for  his  drunkenness. 
The  first  case  of  that  sin  on  record.  See  how  He  punished  Hani  and 
Canaan  in  themselves  and  their  posterities.  The  first  on  record  of 
irreverence  to  parents  and  grandparents.  See  how  He  punished  the 
Sodomites  for  sinning  against  personal  virtue.  The  first  sinners  of 
that  kind  on  record.  And  the  antediluvians  for  violating  the  laws  of 
marriage.  ^Vhile  these  first  guilty  of  these  sins  are  thus  signally 
i;)unished,  it  serves  a  good  purpose  of  warning  and  of  restraining 
others  from  all  kinds  of  sin,  and  for  all  time  to  come. 

With  all  the  warnings  and  all  other  helps  they  have,  if  they  persist 
in  Avrong  doing.  His  decree  is,  in  that  purely  spiritual  world,  to  which 
we  shall  all  go,  they  shall  be  deprived  of  all  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  citizenship,  and  banished  beyond  all  human  enjoyment — fixed  in 
outer  darkness,  or  the  bottomless  pit,  or  the  lake  of  fire,  as  the.  sen- 
tence in  each  case  may  be,  as  delivered  by  the  righteous  Judsje. 
They  will  each  be  sent  to  the  most  fit  place  in  that  world  for  which 
they  have  indiscreetly  prepared  themselves. 

It  does  not  follow,  however,  that  He  i-efrains  now  from  punishing 
sinners  in  this  lifetime.  He  yet  punishes  sinners  in  this  world.  )ni( 
He  does  not  make  such  signal  displays  of  it  as  He  did  in  the  first 
cases,  yet  it  is  a  standing  fact  that  all  our  suffering  can  be  traced 
back  to  sin  .somewlxere  lying  at  tlie  door.     If  not  your  own  sin.  it  is 


102.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

done  somewhere  about  you.  Sin  is  dangerous.  We  should  do  all 
we  can  to  eliminate  it,  and  prevent  it. 

After  the  flood  the  Lord  declared  that  He  would  never  again  destroy 
the  whole  world  by  a  Hood  of  water.  But  not  that  He  would  not  by 
a  flood  of  fire,  for  so  it  is  to  be.  When  they  sinned  at  Babel  He  pun- 
ished them  in  a  dift'erent  way.  When  Adam  sinned  he  damaged  him- 
self and  all  the  world.  When  men  sinned  before  the  flood  they 
brought  destruction  upon  themselves  ;  but  when  they  sinned  at  Babel 
they  brought  us  all  to  great  inconvenience,  much  hard  study  and 
expense,  which  is  upon  all  nations  today.  But  for  that  a  man  might 
be  a  good  scholar  and  know  but  one  language,  and  that  the  one  he 
learned  from  his  mother.  Both  the  Bible  and  the  human  race  tell 
that  story  of  Babel  in  all  the  world  today.  For  not  only  in  the  Bible, 
but  in  every  division  of  the  race  it  is  indelibly  written,  ((xen.  11  :l-9). 

There  was  no  such  thing  as  savage  life  in  the  antediluvian  world, 
nor  in  the  post-diluvian  until  about  500  years  after  the  flood.  Noah 
and  all  his  posterity  continued  in  a  state  of  civilization  until  the  days 
of  Nimrod.  He  was  the  flrst  to  break  over  the  established  oi-der.  He 
taught  flrst  rebellion  in  religion,  then  in  civil  affairs.  Next  he  led 
them  into  idolatry,  then  some  time  after  that  many  of  them  went  into 
a  savage  state. 

They,  Nimrod  leading,  built  them  a  tower  to  protect  themselves 
against  another  flood  if  it  sJiould  come.  This  was  throwing  away 
faitli  in  Providence.  For  the  Lord  had  covenanted  with  mankind, 
and  even  with  beasts,  all  flesh,  voluntarily  on  His  own  part,  that  the 
world  should  never  again  be  destroyed  by  a  flood  of  water.  ((Ten. 
9:8-17). 

This  act  of  theirs  was  very  provoking  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
therefore,  He  there  confounded  their  language.  Split  up  the  race 
into  nationalities ;  scattered  them  abroad  over  the  whole  earth.  In 
the  lapse  of  time  many  of  them  went  into  idolatry,  then  into  barba- 
rism. Idolatry,  or  devilism,  is  the  fruitful  source  of  all  savage  life  in 
mankind ;  and  of  all  forms  of  superstition,  as  fate  and  luck. 

Adam  nor  Noah  did  not  think  there  was  anything  unlucky  about 
Friday.  Nor  that  it  was  unlucky  to  begin  a  job  on  Saturday  unless 
yoii  flnish  it  on  that  day.  Adam  and  Eve  knew  that  it  was  the  day 
of  the  week  thej^  were  created,  that  it  gave  them  existence.  Neither 
did  they  fear  bad  hick  if  a  rabbit  did  cross  their  patli  ahead  of  them. 
Nor  if  a  screech-owl  did  sing  his  unwelcome  notes  near  their  houses. 
Nor  if  any  of  the  family  did  take  up  the  ashes  from  the  fireplace 
either  on  the  flrst  or  last  day  of  the  year.  They  feared  no  such 
things.  They  believed  in  God's  providence.  Never  thoiight  about 
any  of  the  numerous  superstitions  that  have  since  prevailed.  They 
all  came  from  heathenism  and  Satan,  and  never  afflicted  mankind 
until  some  five  centuries  after  the  flood.  All  of  these  with  fate  and 
luck  are  relics  of  idolatry.  People  should  believe  in  providence,  so 
express  themselves,  and  let  all  these  notions  die  out  of  society. 

Cain  built  a  city,  (Gen.  1:17).  This  is  the  flrst  citj'  we  read  of.  It 
is  said  from  the  first  that  Cain  was  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  That  implies 
a  settled  life.     So  does  a  city. 

Nature,  so  lo  speak,  or  rather  providence,  suggested  to  them   how 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  1C>n. 

to  provide  for  their  needs.  Those  who  grazed  cattle  and  slioop  built 
tents.  Tlieir  business  would  naturally  sui^gest  tliat  kind  of  protec- 
tion for  them.  Material  want,  or  finances,  quite  from  the  begin nin<^ 
caused  men  to  think  and  to  learn  how  to  economize  their  means — fit 
them  to  conditions. 

It  would  not  pay  the  tenders  of  cattle  and  sheep  to  build  houses. 
Jabal  was  the  inventor  of  tents.     (Gen.  4:20). 

It.  is  evident  that  the  rest  lived  in  houses,  or  it  would  not  have 
been  specified  that  those  who  tended  cattle  and  sheep  dwelt  in  tents. 
It  shows  that  houses  were  built  before  tents  were  invented.  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  .Jacob  and  the  sons  of  Israel  dwelt  in  tents,  for  their  busi- 
ness was  about  cattle  and  sheep.  (Oen.  46:82-84).  Xeither  have 
modern  herdsmen  and  shepherds  any  better  contrivance  unto  this 
day.  Those  were  naturally  as  inventive  as  are  these  at  this  day. 
They  had  by  nature  as  great  brain  capacity  as  these  have  now.  In 
our  own  country  farmers  had  at  first  stationary  machinery  in  houses 
for  threshing  grain  ;  by  and  by  it  was  suggested  by  pecuniary  inter- 
est to  have  traveling  threshes,  then  they  took  the  field  for  threshing. 
So  from  the  days  of  Jabal,  the  shepherd  learned  to  construct  his 
movable  tent.  All  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  en  route  for  the 
land  of  Canaan,  dwelt  in  movable  tents,  worshipped  in  a  movable  tent 
— the  tabernacle — but  settled  in  Canaan,  the  most  of  them  dwelt  in 
houses,  worshipped  in  the  temple  and  synagogues.  Adam  and  his 
descendants  that  were  tillers  of  the  soil,  doubtless,  from  the  state- 
ment above,  dwelt  in  houses.  And  this  first  city,  no  doubt,  was 
built  of  houses. 

It  was  naturally  suggested  to  them  as  a  protection  against  fero- 
cious beasts  and  human  foes,  too.  if  they  should  have  any;  and  as  a 
convenience  to  each  other  in  time  of  sickness,  and  of  heavy  work, 
and  other  needs  that  should  arise,  and  for  society,  trade,  literature, 
the  study  of  the  arts,  and  of  worship.  Music  and  the  mechanical 
arts  flourished  among  them.  (Gen.  4:21-22).  Naamah,  it  seems,  was  a 
female  artist  and  leader  in  the  ladies  department. 

The  city  gave  them  many  advantages  even  in  those  days.  Some  of 
them,  too,  as  their  successors  have  since  done,  used  them  for  evil. 
The  ladies  of  this  first  of  cities,  being  mostly  indoors,  improved  their 
complexions  above  the  daughters  of  the  shepherds,  who  lived  in  tents 
and  often  had  to  water  the  flocks ;  and  when  the  sons  of  the  shep- 
herds, herdsmen  and  brawny  farmers  saw  them,  they  thought  they 
were  superior  to  those  in  their  country,  and  fell  in  love  with  them. 
And  although  it  was  against  the  rule  for  them  to  marry  into  Cain's 
tribe,  they  married  them  anyhow,  ((^en.  6:2).  The  breaking  over 
the  rule  caused  much  trouble;  the  fifth  verse  shows  it. 

This  city  was  improved  constantly  by  the  use  of  tools  made  of  iron 
and  brass.  (Gen.  4:22).  They  had  no  stone  age.  They  had  iron  and 
brass,  and  tools  of  either  as  they  chose  to  make  out  of  these  metals. 
The  Almighty  having  instructed  mankind  from  the  beginning  to  do 
everything  as  they  had  need.  They  had,  too,  harps  and  organs;  and 
any  evidence  that  they  were  inferior  instruments  of  jnusic  is  not 
found.     No  do\ibt  they  were  partly  wooden  and  partly  metallic. 

This  state  of  civilization   continued    until    the    flood.     Noah   could 


1(U.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

not  have  built  the  na-k  without  it,  and  the  means  it  furnislied.  It  was 
a  product  of  civilization.  It  could  not  have  been  done  without  nie- 
tallie  tools.  The  instructions  proceed  upon  the  presumption  that  he 
had  the  necessary  tools  for  the  joining,  squaring,  plumbing,  leveling 
and  measuring.  And  it  would  seem  that  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
write  down  the  instructions  for  frequent  reference  in  his  work.  He 
must  have  been  able  to  read,  write  and  make  calculations.  It  would 
require  good  workmanship  to  build  such  a  craft.  And  its  success  on 
that  wonderful  voyage  shows  that  it  was  well  done. 

This  state  of  civilization  was  carried  over  into  the  New  World  by 
the  great  mechanic,  preacher  and  scholar.  Which  like  the  first,  began 
with  faith  in  the  God  of  Creation,  of  providence,  of  salvation,  and 
now  of  the  flood.  And  of  course  such  people  prodiiee  the  best  type 
of  civilization.  And  this  happy  civilization  moved  on  .in  concert 
with  the  worship  of  God  until  the  confounding  of  the  Avorld's  one 
speech — a  penalty  for  this  new  form  of  sin  in  the  intention  and  use 
of  that  tower  which  was  then  being  built.     (Gen,  11  :l-9). 

By  this  time  they  had  hard  brick  by  burning  them  thoroughly. 
They  used  brick  for  stone  and  slime  for  mortar,  which  show^s  that 
they  had  before  used  stones  for  building  houses,  and  mortar,  doubt- 
less, of  clay. 

To  plan  such  a  tower,  of  its  dimensions,  and  so  lay  its  foundations, 
and  so  plumb  its  walls  that  it  stood  steady  until  it  reached  a  gi'eat 
height^  would  require  intelligent  mechanical  skill  and  tools  of  metal 
for  the  work.  The  material  was  well  prepared;  the  work  well  done. 
It  stood  for  centuries.     Josephus  speaks  of  it  as  standing  in  his  day. 

None  except  intelligent  men  could  do  such  a  work.  They  had,  too, 
a  city  planned.  Now  they,  since  400  years  aft^r  Creation,  had 
used  metallic  tools,  stone  and  mortar  in  house  building,  and  now 
burnt  brick,  with  slime  for  cement;  could  raise  massive  walls;  they 
soon  after  built  the  cities  of  Erech,  Accad,  Calneh,  in  the  land  of 
Shinar;  Nineveh,  Rehoboth,  Calah,  and  Resen  in  Assvria.  (Gen. 
10:10-12). 

This  civilization  in  the  days  of  Melchizedek  built  Salem,  Sodom  and 
other  cities  in  the  west.  The  same  civilization  was  carried  south  into 
Egypt,  where  it  flourished  happily  through  the  reigns  of  the  Pha- 
i-aohs.  In  all  those  times  they  used  metallic  tools.  Built  houses, 
and  walls,  and  monuments,  of  stone  and  common  mortar,  or  of  burnt 
brick  and  slime.  No  stone  age  up  to  those  times.  Mankind  had  not 
yet  become  so  darkened  by  idolatry  anywhere  as  to  go  into  a  atone 
age.     Primitive  customs  yet  prevailed. 

In  Gen.  12  :15,  we  read  of  Pharaoh's  house.  It  is  evident  from  Gen. 
19:1-12,  that  Sodom  was  a  city  of  streets  and  houses.  Lot,  the  judge, 
dwelt  in  a  house  that  had  doors  and  fastened  shuttei'S.  That  city 
had  gates;  of  course  walls,  too.  In  Gen.  88:1-16,  we  see  that  those 
people  had  a  city  with  gates.  In  that  city  the  business  of  the  mer- 
chant was  then  well  established ;  they  iised  silver.  Whether  16  to  1 
or  not,  it  was  current,  by  established  weight,  in  exchange,  in  buying 
and  selling.  They  also  conveyed  titles  to  property  for  permanent 
possession,  that  descended  to  a  mane's  heirs  indefinitely.  Surely  here 
are  footprints  of  a  good  degree  of  civilization. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATirJX.  Ic.:,. 

And  in  (ien.  2i  :21)-*3(),  is  shown  that  in  lliat  old  easltn-n  country 
whence  Abraham  came,  the  the  people  lived  in  houses;  had  houses, 
too,  for  their  animals.  Silver  and  g-old  in  currency,  as  well  as  in 
ornaments,  were  used.  I\Ien  holdinj^j  permanent  wealth  anfl  convey- 
intj  it  to  their  heirs  after  them,  as  in  the  west.  In  hoi  h  they  bou*,'ht, 
sold  and  subscribed  evidence  of  permanent  titles. 

Gen.  26,  shows  that  the  Philistines,  like  the  Egyptians,  were  a 
settled  people,  carrying  on  arts  and  commerce,  in  the  days  of  Isaac 
and  of  Abraham.  The  arts  were  cultivated  among  them  unto  tlie 
times  of  the  prophet  Samuel,  (1  Sam.  18:19-22,)  and  later. 

And  the  Canaanites  had  lived  a  settled  life  until  Jacob  returned 
from  his  sojourn  in  Syria.  And  on,  and  on.  they  did  until  the  days 
of  Joshua.  When  Joseph  was  carried  into  Egypt,  they  had  then 
houses  and  fields,  (den.  89  :;")  and  4:7  :14).  Xot  long  after  this  was  it, 
that  Hebrew  labor  was  employed  in  building  the  pyramids,  and  fine 
cities,  and  costly  temple.^,  as  Pithom  and  Rameses,  (Ex.  1:11.)  No 
doubt  Ijut  Pithom  was  for  what  they  called  their  sacred  treasures, 
for  Python  was  their  chief — so-called — deity,  (Acts.  16 :  16,)  whose 
worship  was  afterward  taught  in  Greece;  and  Rameses  for  the  king's 
treasures. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  the  Hebrews,  Egyptians,  Ph(_enieians, 
Assyrians,  Syrians,  Philistines  and  Canaanites.  ever  had  any  stone 
age.  They  used,  as  did  the  antediluvians,  all  and  any  of  the  ordinary 
metals  as  they  chose  for  tools  and  instruments  of  music,  and  silver 
and  gold  for  money  and  ornaments.  From  the  earliest  of  times,  all 
along  through  the  ages,  implements  and  weapons  of  war  were  by 
them  made  of  metallic  substances.  Ages  of  stone  are  peculiar  to 
barbarians. 

Those  nations  mentioned  above,  although  like  all  civilized  people, 
had  in  them  much  sin,  were  not  barbarians  at  any  time. 

After  the  time  of  the  Hebrew  prophets,  it  was  said  in  ]irf)phecy, 
that  Egypt  should  become  the  basest  of  the  kingdoms.  Pursuant 
thereto  modern  Kgypt  has  been  far  behind  ancient  Egypt.  A  fearful 
warning  to  all  who  make  a  misuse  of  the  advantages  of  civilization. 

The  Bible  tells  the  story  of  all  these  civilizations,  and  of  others 
that  followed  them,  and  of  the  terrible  calamities  that  befell  them. 
And  it  says,  "Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take  heed  lest  he 
fall.""  (1  Cor.  10:12).  Those  that  now  are  standing  would  do  well 
to  learn  from  the  past.  They  certainly  are  carrying  a  great  deal  of 
error  and  sin.  Where  is  Tyrus  the  Phtenicians'  Perfection  of  Beauty? 
And  where  is  ancient  Jerusalem,  the  Hebrews'  Perfection  of  Beauty? 
Each  is  the  glory  of  the  ancient  civilization  of  its  people.  In  their 
long  since  ruined  conditions  some  Scripture  prophecies  are  fearfully 
fulfilled.  And  likewise  Bible  prophecy  stands  fulfilled  in  lh(!  mi-<era- 
ble  conditions  of  the  rest  for  abusing  their  civilizations. 

There  never  was  such  a  thing  as  the  dawn  of  civilization,  'i'he  race 
was  created  in  civilization.  Held  it  for  more  than  two  thousand 
years  universally.  The  world  has  never  been  without  civilization. 
It  has  never  been  at  any  time  universally  suspended. 

Neither  was  there  a  prehistoric   time.      For   tlie    IJihlc   gives    us   a 


im.  THE  STOTJA^  OF  CREATION. 

true  history  from  tlie  ))Pi;iniiin;j;  of  the  human  race,  and  from  tlie 
be,ii"i lining-  of  time. 

Some  tliough  have  written  that  there  was  a  time  when  mankind 
]iad  no  families,  no  marriages,  consequently  no  man  would  know  who 
he  was  father  of.  That  education  crave  them  the  institutions  of  mar- 
riage and  of  the  family. 

That  may  do  to  say  to  those  who  do  not  know  any  better,  but  it  is 
really  ridiculous  for  any  learned  person  to  make  any  such  a  state- 
ment. No  man  knows  of  such  a  period  for  aJl  mankind.  For  in  the 
most  distant  ages  known  to  history,  men  and  women  were  lawfully 
married  to  one  another,  lived  in  families,  and  woi"shipped  God. 

Nor  do  the  records  in  the  Bible  show  for  long  centuries  any  births 
by  illegitimacy.  Nor  was  the  news  of  the  world  in  those  happy  cen- 
turies burdened  with  but  one  act  of  murder;  that  of  righteous  Abel. 
A  golden  age  it  was. 

Then  for  long  centuries  after  the  Hood  no  such  evils  ns  idolatry, 
savageism,  bastardy,  lechery,  murders,  suicides,  stealth  and  rob- 
bery, nor  war  is  on  record.     Surely  it  was  another  golden  age. 

As  to  marriage,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  today  anywhere  on 
earth  a  tribe  of  people  without  it  and  the  family.  I  have  read  many 
accounts  of  travelers  in  quite  all  parts  of  the  world,  in  ancientand 
modern  times,  and  none  of  them  ever  mention  a  people  without  mar- 
riage and  the  family. 

It  is  true  certain  associations  within  a  civilized  nation  deny  them- 
selves tlie  happiness  of  marriage  and  the  family.  But  it  is  always 
founded  on  some  peculiar  idea  from  some  erroneous  education.  There 
is  no  account,  that  I  Icnow  of,  of  uncuvilized  man  denying  himself 
this  natural  source  of  happiness. 

.Tliere  are  Christian  parents  today  indirectly  teaching  their  chil- 
dren away  from  (lod  by  instilling  evolutionary  ideas  into  their  minds. 
O,  the  pity  of  it!  The  pity  that  they  do  not  see  the  w^eakness  and 
1  lie  folly  of  it.  Those  that  are  so  taught  may  become  so  imbeciled 
in  thought  that  it  will  take  miracles  in  gross  material  things  to  con- 
vince them  of  C'hristian  truth.  "()  for  some  gift  divine,"  tluU  th.ey 
may  see  that  (hmger  and  escape  it,  tool 


CHAPTER  II. 


Thk  confoun'ding  tlie  language  and  dividing  mankind  into  different 
races,  and  subdivision  of  the  races,  into  nationalities,  made,  for  the 
time  being,  against  the  progress  of  religion.  But  the  Lord  foresaw 
under  the  circumstances  then  setting  in  that  it  would  be  better  to 
risk  it  than  them  as  they  were. 

Here  is  the  beginning  of  the  five  races  of  men,  out  of  the  one  orig- 
inal race,  of  which  they  are  so  many  branches,  and  the  beginning  of 
languages  except  the  one  original.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
nations  also. 

Before  this  there  was  but  one  language,  but  one  complexion,  and 
but  one  form  of  worship  airiong  men. 

The  original  complexion  of  mankind,  the  original  sjoeech,  and  the 
orignal  form  of  worshi]),  were  left  to  Shem    and   his   descendants,  for 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  107. 

I 

llu'  inir])Ose  of   preserviiii;'   these   precious   things,  willi    all    revealed  '^ 

truth,  intact  until  the  fullness  of  time  should   come.     And   through  ■■■ 

tliem  the  history  of  the  past,  and  of  all    these   things,  too,  were   pre-  | 

served;   for  the  future  good  of  all  tlie  human  family,  and  the  original  j 

civilization  continued  unbroken.    So  we  have  no  dawn  of  civilization,  ' 

nor  prehistoric  time.     Thank  the  Lord  we  are   better  informed  than  | 

to  have  to  make  any  such    humiliating  confessions   of   ignorance   of  } 

anti([uity. 

By  and  l)y  the  tribe  of   Sliem    became   different    nations,  and    the  ,^ 

Shemitic  language  underwent  changes  to  suit  them  in  their  national-       .^ 
ities,  as  the  Heb'i-ew,  tlie  Ari manic,  Fhrenician  and  Oanaanitish  ;   and  ^,,'^"'}^ 
later,  when  the  Lord  foresaw  in  order  to   preserve  the   true  religion,  i       - 
and  the  original  civilization  in  the  world,  it   w'ould    be    necessary   io  f^^V^t 
have  a  peculiar  people,  He  chose   "Abram,   the   Hebrew,"'   for  this  ^ 

special  work.   Kept  him  separate  to  himself,  discipled  him,  sustained  , 

his  posterity  by    His   providence   and    restrained   them    by   covenant  ;i 

limits. 

In  the  days  of  "Moses,  His  servant,"  He  chose  the   seed   of   Abra-  ' 

ham,  through  Isaac  and  Jacob,  for  His  peculiar  nation,  and  preserved  "  , 

them,  "all  the  days  of  old,"  for  this  purpose.     To  conserve  the  true  1 

religion    mankind    had   had   from   the    beginning,    and   Adamic   and  '^ 

Noahic   civilization    imtil   the   promises   made   to  Abraham  were  fnl-  | 

tilled  in  Ohrisjit  Jesus,  (rod's  Anointed.     Then  it  was  for  Christianity  i 

to  conserve  that  true  religion,  and   that  original   civilization    in   the  ". 

W'orld.    And  she  has  done  it.     She  is  the  foster  mother  of  civilization  : 

as  she  has  ever  been  of  education. 

The  Hebrews  were  never  in  a   savage  state.     \\'hen  they  went  into  -j 

Egypt  they  were  civilized.     The  Egyptians,  too,  were  then  a  civilized  •; 

people.     Having  been   taught,  also,  as    Josephus   says,  mathematics  ^ 

])y  the  great  patriarch  Abi-aham,  and  astronomy,  too,  by   that   great  ■ 

Hebrew.  And  they  learned  much  by  the  wise  and  pious  Joseph.  S(j 
Moses'  learning  was  He'braic  as  well  as  Egyptian.  Nor  did  the 
Israelites  lose  their  civilization  during  their  slavery   in   Egypt;   they  'i 

were  never  in  a    barbarous  state.     Their  conduct   in   the  wilderness,  '] 

while  it  was  not  altogether  religious,  was   free  altogether  from  any  ^ 

])rinci]jk's  of  savage  life.  ] 

The  chief  weapon  of  war  among  the  Egyptians  was  the  sword.  (Ex.  }, 

15:9).     The  first  military  engagement  the  Hebrews  had  was  with  the  i 

Amalekites,  and  they  slew  them  wnth  the  edge  of  the  sword.  (Ex. 
17:lf5).     We  are  not  informed  as  to  how  they  got  .swords.     When  the  '"> 

Egypt. ians  got  tired  of  them  they  helped  the-m  ott",  and  may  have 
given  them  swoi-ds  then  ;  or  they  may  have  taken  them  as  spoils  from  ^ 

tlieir  enemies  on  the  seashore.     (Ex.  14:80).     They   conducted   their  i, 

wars  on  as  humane  principles  as  war  could  be,  both  in  the  time  of  3 

.Moses  and  under  Joshua,  an'd  always  thereafter  on  civilized  methods. 

The    country    was    divided   among   the   tribes,    .loscpluis   says,    by  j 

geometrical  survey,  in  perfect  agreement  to  all.     They  were   all   sat-  ; 

isfied  with  the  inheritance  assigned  to  each  tribe  by  the  arbiters.    .\s  7^ 

a  nation  they  acted  from  the  start   on  civilized  in'inciples.     They  did  J 

in  all  of  their  wars,  in  commerce,  in   agriculture,  in  meciinnical  arts. 


168.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

in  poetry,  in  history,  in  oratoiy,  in  social  life,  in  the  fine  arts,  and  in 
religion. 

In  reading  their  history  one  might  think  they  were  often  involved 
in  war,  but  not  more  so  than  the  nations  of  Europe  have  been  for  the 
last  six  hundred  years.  But  if  the  reader  will  notice  the  dates  he 
will  see  there  were  many  more  years  of  peace  than  of  war.  So,  I 
may  add,  in  human  life  are  many  more  days  of  joy  than  of  grief. 

Historians  are  somewhat  like  vultures ;  they  go  for  the  carcass. 
That  makes  the  biggest  bulk  of  the  world's  history.  The  historian 
passes  rapidly  over  times  of  peace,  but  dwells  long  on  the  battle- 
fields. So  some  scientists  pay  but  little  attention  to"  the  natural  or- 
der of  the  world,  but  spend  their  time  on  the  phenomenal. 

Nor  did  tlie  Hebrews  go  into  a  savage  state  in  either  the  Assyrian 
or  Babylonish  captivity.  The  people  they  served  were  also  civilized. 
After  their  return  to  the  land  of  Canaan,  they  preserved  intact  their 
religion,  with  all  its  peculiarities,  and  their  civilization  too.  When 
the  Christ  was  with  them  in  humanity,  they  were  in  a  highly  civil- 
ized state;  and  the  Romans  wei'e  at  their  best  estate  also. 

\A'herever  the  apostles  went  in  all  their  ministry,  they  found  the 
Jew  a  civilized  man.  Since  they  lost  nationality  they  have  never  gone 
into  a  barbarous  state,  nor  departed  fi*om  Moses  and  the  prophets. 
Neither  did  they,  after  returning  from  the  Babj'lonish  captivity,  ever 
again  go  into  idolatry.  That  captivity  cured  them  of  idolatry,  as  well 
as  of  Sabbath  breaking. 

I  think  it  is  probable  tliat  some  of  each  of  the  twelve  tribes 
returned  from  those  captivities  and  made  the  one  government  of  the 
Jews  from  that  time  on,  until  their  dispersion  in  the  times  of  the 
apostles  of  Christ,  as  saith  the  prophet :  "The  envy  also  of  Ephraira 
shall  depart,  and  the  adversaries  of  Judah  shall  be  cut  of? :  Ephraim 
shall  not  envy  Judah,  and  Judah  shall  not  vex  Ephraim."  (Is.  11 :18). 
Zechariah  refers  to  the  same.  (Ch.  10:5-10).  Of  course  they  may 
have  a  more  remote  reference. 

The  Jew  never  was  a  savage  man.  Never  had  what  some  writers 
call  ''A  stone  age."  He  has  always  had  civilization,  and  his  history 
too. 

A  continuous  line  of  civilization  extends  from  the  beginning  of 
time  to  this  day.  The  case  is  clearly  made  out.  The  Bible  furnishes 
us  a  reliable  history  of  Creation,  and  of  man  in  his  primitive  state  on 
through  the  ages,  until  the  dispersion  at  the  tower  of  Babel,  then  of 
the  Hebrew  race  through  the  line  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  until 
A.  1).  6;>,  with  a  good  deal  of  useful  history  of  those  peoples  witli 
whom  the  Hebrew  had  dealings.  Since  that  time  we  have  reliable 
history,  both  religious  and  secular.  So  the  chain  of  history  goes  back 
in  unbroken  links,  to  the  beginning  of  the  world.  No  dawn  of  civili- 
zation ;  no  Jiistoric  time,  only  for  thos€i  who  came  ovit  of  a  savage 
state,  which  is  not  true  of  all  the  race. 

Those  who  know  the  Scriptures  know  there  never  was  a  time  when 
there  were  no  civilized  people  i)i  the  world.  It  is  true,  however,  that 
in  everj^  period  there  was  wickedness  too,  but  that  is  no  more  proof 
that  they  were  not  civilized,  than  the  wickedness  in  America  now 
proves  she  is  not  civilized.     Much  of  the  most  atrocious  wickedness 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  ]<)•». 

recorded  in  liistory  was  done  Ity  those  wlio  were  considered   civilized. 

All  saved  in  the  ark  were  civilized,  and  worshippers  oC  (lod.  The 
world  then  was  in  a  civilized  state  everywhere  ;  contiimed  so  for  ahout 
five  centuries.  The  Hrst  specie^  of  idolatrj'  begati  ahout  that  time — 
Sabeistn — the  worship  of  the  host  of  Heaven.  Froiri  that  they 
descended  lower  and  lower,  which  led  to  wild  barbarism.  St.  Paul 
describes  it,  (Rom.  1  :2t)-'W).  The  crreat  missionary,  Y.  .1.  Allen,  says 
it^ji  true  picture  of  the  Heathen  world  today.  Idolatry  darkens,  as 
the  apostle  saith,  "their  foolish  heart  was  darkened,"  worshipped  at 
first  nature  along  with  (rod,  then  by  and  i\v,  quit  more  and  more  the 
worship  of  God,  until  they  descended  to  those  depths  of  degradation 
there  set  forth.  He  says,  "professing  tliemselves  to  be  wise,  they 
became  fools." 

But  (xod  was  so  good  that  He  still  gave  them  light  enough  to  save 
them  if  they  would  have  accepted  it.  "For  the  invisible  things  of  Him 
from  the  C-reation  of  the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being  understood  by 
the  things  that  are  made,  even  His  eternal  power  and  (fodhead  ;  so  that 
they  are  without  excuse."  (V.  20.)  Even  the  darkest  heathen  then 
cannot  be  justified  in  liis  idolatry  and  other  sins. 

For  since  the  Creation  of  the  world  men  have  understood  by  natvii*e 
and  instinct  the  invisible  things  of  God  from  the  things  He  hath 
made.  In  Job  87  :18  the  sky  is  compared  to  "a  molten  looking  glass." 
In  .Iob'.s  time  they  understood  the  nature  and  power  of  that  kind  of 
mirror.  As  it  reflects  the  features  of  the  beholder,  so  the  otlierwise 
unseen  things  of  God  are  clearly  seen  in  the  things  He  hatli  made. 
A  man's  chai'acter  is  revealed  in  what  he  does;  so  God  is  revealed  in 
His  works.  You  say  this  is  a  work  of  human  art.  So  it  is  true  that 
all  nature  is  (rod's  work.  And  as  art,  whei'ever  found,  shows  the  ex- 
istence of  numkind;  so  nature  declares  the  existence  of  God.  So  all 
are  held  accountable  to  God  who  have  the  light  of  nature  to  guide 
them  ;   and  are  without  excuse  even  if  they  have  no  more. 

I  think  it  is  evident  from  our  Savior's  teaching,  (Matt.  21  :2S-Ji()). 
that  the  txentile  world  liad  the  first  olfer  from  God  after  the  flood, 
which  is  repi'esented  in  a  general  way  in  that  parable  by  the  elder 
son.  Being  rejected  by  them  it  was  offered  to  the  Hebrews  and  they 
accepted  it.  But  by  and  by,  when  the  majority  of  them  rejected  the 
Gospel  of  C'hrist,  and  the  Gentiles  generally  accepting  it,  did  His 
will.  While  the  Hebi-ews,  as  the  younger  son.  did  His  will  they  ex- 
celled all  other  people  in  wisdom,  prosperity  and  happiness.  But  when 
they  refused  to  do  His  will  they  fell  behind  those  who  then  w^ent  to 
tloing  His  will.  Which  shows  in  both  that  the  real  advancement  of 
any  people  depends  upon  doing  His  will.  Xor  is  His  will  ever  opposed 
to  any  legitimate  improvement  we  can  make,  but  on  the  contrary  the 
Bible  encf)urages  development  in  everything  that  is  good.  Yea, 
teaches  us  to  go  on  unto  perfection. 


CHAPTER   TIT. 


Thk  Lord  has  had  in  every  age  those  who  were  civilized  and  His  true 
worshippers.  The  great  prophet  Elijah  was  once  tempted  to  think 
that  he  was  the  only  one  of  ten  of   the  tribes  that  worshipped   God, 


170.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

but  tlie  Lord  informed  him  better.  So  any  one  else  can  be  better 
informed  on  this  subject  if  he  desires  to  be. 

It  is  true  that  tlie  Hebrews  did  go  into  idolatry  at  times,  but  it  was 
only  temporary  and  partial.  Although  as  a  race  none  of  them  were 
ever  in  a  savage  state. 

We  have  also  much  valuable  history  in  the  Bible  of  Egypt  and  the 
contemporary  nations  along  with  the  Hebrews,  especially  of  those 
which  descended  from  Shem,  as  they  did,  and  from  Ham,  as  did  the 
P^gyptians,  clear  on  until  the  days  of  Solomon.  Then  we  have  some 
general  ideas  of  the  conditions  of  the  whole  world.  (1  Kings  10  :2J:-25). 

It  seems,  however,  that  during  this  period  the  descendants  of  Ja- 
pheth  were  farther  off  from  the  influences  of  Israel  than  any  others. 
They  came  but  little  into  Hebrew  notice,  it  appears,  until  after  the 
Babylonish  captivity.  From  the  days  of  Alexander  they  had  much 
to  do  with  the  Greeks,  and  later  on  much  also  to  do  with  the  Romans. 
Thus  was  Europe — the  isles  of  the  Gentiles — nations  of  Japheth — 
made  known  to  Israel.  Those  to  the  Jews  had  been  truly  a  people 
afarotf;  and  being  far  off  from  the  visible  presence  of  God,  (Gen. 
4:  IG),  manifest  to  His  assembled  host,  they  had  less  of  Spiritual 
light.  Hence  they  were  behind  the  Jews  in  civilization  as  well  as  in 
religion. 

I  once  thought  if  the  Romans  had  universal  dominion,  how  was  it 
that  other  nations  overran  their  country  and  broke  down  their  civil- 
ization? But  afterward  found  that  there  had  never  been  any  univer- 
sal dominion,  in  fact,  of  one  people  over  all  other  people  since  the 
days  of  Noah, 

There  were  tribes  of  savage  people — Hamites — south  of  Roman  do- 
minion which  they  had  nothing  to  do  with.  So  were  these  of  Japheth 
far  off  iipon  the  continent  of  Europe — as  well  as  the  mighty  nations 
in  the  distant  north — barbarians  all — not  subdued  by  the  Romans. 
They  subdued  Gaul,  France,  Spain,  Brittain  and  Germany  in  Europe, 
together  witli  those  parts  of  Asia  and  Africa  mentioned  in  the  Bible; 
but  there  were  many  of  the  Shemitic  people  in  Asia  and  America 
which  the  Romans  knew  not  of,  so  it  appears  at  least.  These  distant 
people  were  called  by  both  Jew  and  the  Greek  barbarians, 

All  the  relics  the  evolutionists  write  most  about,  to  try  to  set  their 
theory  on,  are  from  those  countries  that  were  from  of  old  barbarous. 
Many  of  them  are  yet  in  that  ancient  savage  state.  But  all  that  ex- 
cavation finds  in  those  countries  which  I  have  said  enjoyed  ancient 
civilization,  indicates  that  those  lands  were  occupied  by  civilized  peo- 
ple from  the  first. 

There  are  found  relics  of  civilized  domestic  life,  of  mechanical  arts, 
of  the  fine  arts,  of  agriculture,  of  war,  of  commerce,  and  of  literature 
on  stones,  clay  tablets,  vegetable  fabrics,  and  prepared  skins  of  ani- 
mals, showing  more  or  less  intelligence;  all  corroborative  of  the  facts 
of  Bible  history. 

When  a  man  is  drunk  it  appears  to  him  that  every  one  he  sees  is 
drunk  too.  So  some  writers  because  their  distant  ancestors  were 
barbarous,  want  to  saddle  that  on  all.  But  it  don't  fit  all  nations,  for 
there  are  those  who  never  had  any  period  of  savage  life,  no  stone  age. 

They  have  written  that  every  nation  had  its  stone  age,  but  it  is  far 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  171. 

from  the  truth.  No  one  versed  in  general  Iiistory  ean  think  such  a 
thing  as  tliat.  '  Tlie  Bible,  therefore,  as  a  work  of  history  is  exceed- 
ingly valuable.  It  covers  a  broad  field  of  human  history,  stretches 
over  a  long  period,  gives  us  a  wealth  of  useful  history  found  nowhere 
else.  iSTo  one  could  write  a  correct  history  of  the  world  without  it. 
It  saves  us  from  the  unhappy  illusion  of  prehistoric  times  and  dawn 
of  civilization,  except  for  those  who  came  out  of  such  unfortunate 
conditions.     And  thank  the  Lord  for  all  that  got  out. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

From  the  Babylonish  war  with  the  Jews,'  we  have  in  the  Bible  quite 
a  general  history  of  the  world,  as  known  to  them  until  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  68.  Especially  if  we  include  the  books  of  the  Maccabees  and 
Josephus,  Ave  have  a  great  deal  of  the  history  of  the  world  as  then 
knowMi,  outside  of  the  Jewish  nation,  which  is  every  way  reliable  and 
useful,  especially  so  to  all  who  want  a  true  history  of  the  world  from 
the  beginning;  which  is  indeed  a  great  treasure  to  all  lovers  of  true 
learning.  From  this  history  we  learn,  that  for  a  long  time  the  true 
doctrine  of  Deity  and  His  worship  remained  among  the  descendants 
of  Ham  and  Japheth,  after  the  general  dispersion  from  the  tower  of 
Babel.  Yet  it  faded  gradually  away;  and  as  their  minds  became 
more  and  more  darkened,  they  could  only  the  less  understand  the 
operations  of  nature;  or  rather,  God  in  nature,  and  ascribed  tlie 
operations  of  ilie  Creator  to  the  creature,  or  nature.  And  from  the 
teaching  of  JNimrod  they  had  learned  to  ascribe  their  good  fortunes, 
Josephus  says,  to  the  sun,  jnoon  and  stars,  and  to  worship  whatever 
did  them  good.  Hence,  they  got  to  worshipping  nature.  As  St.  Paul 
says,  "serving  the  creature  more  than — or  besides — the  Creator. ' '  Fall- 
ing still  lower,  they  concluded  that  nature  was  God.  Not  being  able 
without  God — whose  worship  they  had  cast  off,  and  His  knowledge 
too — they  failed  to  understand  nature  and  her  true  source,  in  all  of 
her  forces,  and  the  wonders  sh^  appeared  to  do.  And  in  the  vague- 
ness of  their  ideas  they  concluded,  there  is  no  God  but  nature. 
Whereas,  the  Bible  teaches  that  it  is  Providence  acting  upon,  and 
through,  all  nature.  Yet  to  this  day,  many  people,  even  in  Christian 
countries,  as  astronomers  and  physicians,  as  well  as  others,  will  .speak 
of  what  nature  can  do,  when  it  is  only  the  providence  of  God  in 
nature  contrplling  natural  causes  to  bring  about  the  effects  which  are 
produced. 

It  would  be  better  to  say,  as  does  the  Bil^le,  the  Lord,  or  providence 
does,  or  did  it.  It  is  a  timidity  in  some,  and  carelessness  in  others, 
that  causes  them  so  to  speak. 

In  the  pantheism  of  the  ancient  Hindoos,  we  see  some  traces  of  the 
true  doctrine  which  they  had  still  retained.  Some  among  them  were 
like  men  naturally  lost  in  darkness,  groping,  feeling  their  way 
through  that  darkness;  desiring,  seeking  for  light,  if  liaply  they 
might  find  find  it.  (Acts  17  :27,)  which  light  is  God  Himself,  from 
whom  they  liad  departed.  As  the  apostle  saith,  "when  tliey  knew 
God' — all  knew  Him  before  that  fainous  dispersion  at  the  tower  of 
Babol — "they  glorified  Him,  not  as  God,  neither  were  they  thankful," 


172.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

-Imildini;:  that  tower  for  its  avowixl  pui'pose  .showed  it — "but  became 
vain  in  Uieir  imaginations,  and  tlieir  foolish  Jiearts  were  darkened." 
(Rom.  J  :2J,  (len.  11  :(>).     A  judicial  curse  for  what  they  had  done. 

The  decline  began  from  the  beginning  of  idolatry.  The  Scriptures 
show  again  and  again,  the  blinding  effects  idolatry  has,  first  upon  the 
heart,  then  upon  the  mind  of  man.  This  darkness  increased  until  it 
engrossed  the  greater  part  of  maidvind. 

Some  of  those  old  heathen  pliilosophers,  as  Aristotle,  had,  how- 
ever, a  clearer  conception  of  Deity  and  of  His  works,  than  some  of 
their  followers  in  philosophy  have  at  this  day.  Also  excelled  them 
in  the  love  of  virtue,  of  morality,  and  of  piety. 

All  the  light  those  had  on  religion  was  fragmental  of  that  true 
light  handed  down  to  Adam  from  Ood,  and  successively  through  the 
great  patriarchs  unto  Noah,  and  carried  in  the  general  dispersion  of 
the  different  tribes  of  men,  which  had  gradually  declined  and  was 
still  declining. 

They  had  retained  fragmental  beliefs  in  the  coming  of  Clirist,  the 
Son  of  (rod.  All  tlie  people  of  the  world  had  an  idea  tliat  He  was  to 
come,  as  He  is  called  in  Scripture,  "the  Desire  of  all  nations."  (Hag. 
2:7).  But  the  Greeks,  like  the  .Jews,  had  preconceived  conceptions 
of  Hiiu,  and  because  He  did  not  till  their  ideal,  like  the  Jews  many 
of  them  rejected  Him.  (1  Cor.  1 :21-22).  As  the  Jews,  they  failed 
because  they  did  not  adopt  the  I'ight  metliod.     (Rom.  10:2-8). 

Stubborn  prejudice  prevented  both  Jew  and  Greek  from  abandon- 
ing their  own  methods  to  try  those  preached  by  the  apostles  of  Clirist, 
hence  they  persisted  in  their  own  gainsaying  and  perished  in  despis- 
ing tlie  truth.     (Acts  18  :41). 

What  is  the  matter  with  these  who  try  to  modernize  those  old 
heathen  philosophies  is  thej'  have  never  read  or  studied  the  Bible,  or 
if  tliey  did,  it  was  without  any  sympathy  with  it,  or  with  precon- 
ceptions against  it.  H  they  would  study  the  Bible  with  an  earnest 
desii-e  to  know  tlie  truth  they  would  see  much  more  ancient  and 
true  light  there  than  they  can  ever  tftid  in  all  their  classic  literature, 
and  philosophy,  and  science,  and  augiit  else  from  the  heathens. 

One  reason  is  this,  all  that  is  found  among  the  heathen — on  Bible 
subjects — are  only  imperfect  copies  of  the  true  which  are  found  only 
in  the  Hebrew  Bible — the  Bible  for  all  men — high  Heaven's  gift  to  all 
mankind.  If  they  would  study  it  as  they  do  the  others,  and  get  that 
experience  of  soul,  which  it  teaches  as  the  need  of  all, men,  O  Jiow 
happy  they  would  be  I 

Civilization  is  the  normal  state  of  man.  Everything  to  the  con- 
trary is  the  result  of  sin,  and  especially  of  the  awful  sin  of  idolatry. 
God's  curse  is  upon  all  sin  ;  atid  especially  upon  all  forms  of  the 
grievous  sin  of  idolatry.  (Ex.  20:8-4-5,  Deiit.  6:4-5,  Mark  12:28-30). 
Since  they  lost  their  civilization  no  people  have  ever  become  civil- 
ized without  contact  with  other  civilized  persons.  No  people  have 
ever  yet  become  Christianized  without  contact  with  others  who  were 
Christians  before  them.  Civilization,  therefore,  like  Christianity, 
never  evolved  itself. 

Some  civilized  people  have  been  in  every  generation  of  mankind 
from  the  first.     And  from  Adam  there  have  been  some  in  every  gen- 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  173. 

eration  who  were  true  and  faithful  toward  (xod.  Neither  religion  nor 
civilization  had  an  inventor.  They  were  both  given  to  man  at  first. 
And  history  is  as  old  as  man — and  older;  for  it  accounts  for  man's 
creation,  and  of  the  creation  of  those  things  created  before  he  was. 

Some  have  unthoughtedly  said  religion  ought  to  improve.  She  can- 
not improve;  she  has  always  been  perfect.  We  may  improve  in 
religious  knowledge,  in  its  experience,  and  in  its  practice ;  and  ought. 
Both  testaments  urge  us  so  to  do.  Numerous  quotations  to  the  point 
might  be  given. 

All  mankind  needs  is  to  come  to  her  perfect  standard — for  heart 
and  life;  then  they  will  be  complete  in  Christ  Jesus,  which  is  the 
true  light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.  (Gos- 
pel of  John,  1:9). 

All  men  shall  eventually  come  to  see  that  light;  but  with  many  it 
will  be  more  miserable  than  the  way  of  the  transgressor,  which  is  now 
hard,  (Prov.  18:15,)  for  they  are  but  heaping  up  wrath  against  the 
day  of  wrath,  (Rom.  2:5).  Then  shall  they  with  anguish  look  upon 
Him  whom  they,  by  their  unbelief,  neglect,  and  sins  have  pierced. 
(John  19  :37,  Rev.  1 :7  and  Zech.  12  :10). 

There  is  to  be  a  general  triumph  of  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Bible 
over  all  the  earth  before  the  end  of  time  comes.  In  the  day  when 
the  true  light  shall  so  shine,  many  books  on  philosophy  and  science — 
only  so-called,  however — and  pantheism,  and  other  false  things  will 
be  cast  away  as  harmful  things,  by  many  who  will  become  better 
informed  by  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 


CHAPTER  V. 


In  consequence  of  the  decline  we  have  been  speaking  of,  to  preserve 
the  truth  in  the  earth,  the  Lord  separated  Abram  from  the  rest;  even, 
of  his  own  people.  Kept  him  in  His  special  care,  somewhat  as  Christ 
afterward  did  His  twelve  apostles;  so  as  to  make  His  posterity 
through  Isaac  and  Jacob  the  depositaries  of  the  truth  as  had  been 
delivered  to  Adam,  and  all  the  great  patriarchs  before  and  since  the 
flood,  and  as  He  should  the  more  reveal  it  unto  them  from  time  to 
time  in  the  years  to  come,  until  He  should  come  who  is  the  incarna- 
tion of  truth  itself.     (John  1-1:6). 

Abraham  was  ever  true  to  this  sacred  trust,  delivered  it  in  all  of 
its  purity  and  perfection  to  Isaac,  and  Isaac  to  Jacob,  and  Jacob  to 
the  twelve  patriarchs  of  Israel, 

So  when  Joseph  was  delivered  into  Egypt  he  carried  it  with  him  as 
a  forerunner  of  his  father's  house,  which  was  to  follow  him. 

There  was  quite  a  revival  in  Egypt  through  the  wisdom,  teaching, 
examples  and  influence  of  this  pious  Hebrew.  Through  God  he 
brought  the  ruler  and  all  that  nation  to  believe  more  fully  in  Provi- 
dence. They  so  continued,  were  prosperous  and  happy  until  a  ruler 
rose  that  knew  not  Joseph. 

From  then  on  there  was  a  decline  in  morals,  faith  and  intelligence 
until  the  days  of  Moses,  when  the  king  of  Egypt  was  ignorant  enough 
to  say,  "Who  is  the  Lord?  I  know  not  the  Lord."  (Ex.  1:8,  5:2). 
And  every  plague  of  the  ten  had  reference  to  some  form  of  idolatry. 


17i.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

For  instance,  did  they  worship  or  fear  crocodiles,  di'agons,  especially 
Python  !  Tiie  Lord  showed  them  that  He  could  make  him  a  common 
walking  stick  for  man's  use.  They  worshiped  the  sun,  moon  and 
stars.  By  sending  a  thick  darkness  upon  their  land  for  three  days 
and  as  many  nights,  the  Lord  showed  them  that  He  could  blot  them 
all  out,  and" reproduce  them  at  His  will.  (Ex.  10:21-23).  They  wor- 
shiped the  Nile  as  the  great  source  of  their  wealth.  He  showed  that 
He  could  destroy  it,  changing  it  into  blood,  and  not  only  make  it 
useless  to  them,  but  a  means  of  death  in  all  of  their  coasts.  Did 
they  worship  the  ox,  the  cow,  the  calf?  He  shoAved  that  they  were 
no  gods  by  sending  upon  them  a  gi'ievous  murrain,  destroying  great 
numbers  of  them  and  of  their  sheep,  horses  and  camels,  too.  By 
sending  grievous  swarms  of  flies  upon  them,  and  removing  them  at 
His  word.  He  showed  that  there  is  no  fly  god  to  protect  people  from 
any  kind  of  flies,  gnats  or  other  insects. 

Did  they  worship  their  fertile  soil?  He  showed  that  He  could 
curse  it — make  its  dust  a  pest — that  all  the  fruit  of  the  soil  is  from 
Him.  Did  they  have  superstitious  notions  about  ashes?  He  showed 
that  he  could  make  them  a  curse  by  afflicting  their  persons  with  sore 
boils,  as  Satan  brought  afore  upon  Job.  (2  :7-8,  Ex.  9 :8-12).  Did 
they  worship  their  growing  crops?  He  showed  the  vanity  of  it  all  by 
sending  locusts  as  armies,  (Joel  2:25),  to  destroy  them.  Did  they 
tx'ust  in  their  fish  for  flesh  to  eat?  He  showed  tlie  weakness  of  it  by 
causing  them  to  die  in  their  waters,  and  sending  frogs  into  the  cook- 
ing departments  of  Pharaoh  and  of  his  people;  and  they  had  them 
for  bedfellows  too.  Did  they  put  their  trust  in  their  orchards,  gar- 
dens, vineyards  and  forests?  He  showed  the  uncertainty  of  them 
all,  and  that  all  were  in  His  power,  by  sending  terrific  lightnings, 
and  fearful  thunderings,  with  a  grievous  hail  to  slash  them  to  pieces. 
And  did  they  depend  upon  their  firstborn,  "the  chief  of  their 
strength,"  for  their  defence  against  human  foes?  The  Lord  showed 
them  its  vainness  by  slaying  them  all  in  a  silent,  midnight  stroke. 

Truly,  as  was  Athens  in  the  time  of  Paul,  so  was  Egypt  in  the  days 
of  Moses,  full  of  idols.  Like  the  Athenians,  though  learned,  they 
were  in  all  things  superstitious.  Whether  they  were  corrected  or 
not,  it  seems  that  tliey  had  enough  to  cure  them  of  it  all. 

The  Hebrews  witnessed  "His  wonders  in  Egypt "  and  profited  by 
them,  yet  not  so  much  as  they  ought.  During  their  slavery  they  had 
gone  to  some  extent  into  idolatry — not  all  of  them  by  any  means — 
but  none  of  them  went  into  a  savage  state.  Nor  were  the  Egyptians 
in  a  savage  state,  but  civilized  as  were  the  Greeks  in  the  times  of  the 
apostles.  It  is  true  at  Sinai,  soon  after  their  wonderful  deliverance, 
Israel  showed  a  tendency  to  idolatry  ;  yet  never  to  barbarism.  And 
many  times  afterward  did  they  show  tendencies  to  idolatry,  but  were 
ever  free  from  savagism. 

From  the  days  of  Moses  on  through  the  centuries,  the  Hebrew  civ- 
ilization continued  to  improve,  more  or  less  gradually,  except  some 
hindrances  at  times  from  idolatry,  until  it  reached  its  culmination  in 
the  times  of  David  and  Solomon ;  wlien  they  were  sought  unto  by  all 
the  earth  for  wisdom,  for  religious  doctrine  and  forms  of  worship; 
which  the  heathens  attempted  to  imitate,  yet  holding  on  to  idolatry. 


TPfE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  17r). 

Like  the  mongrel  Samaritans  al'terwiird,  fearing  the  Lord,  hut  serv- 
ing their  own  gods.     (2  Kings  17  r^JH). 

At  that  time  Jerusalem  was  the  centre  of  light  for  the  world;  and 
of  political  power,  too.  Hence  so  many  of  them  tried  to  make  affin- 
ity with  Solomon.  This  was  one  thing  that  caused  the  wise  men  of 
the  east  in  after  years  to  come  to  the  west  in  search  of  light,  and  the 
colored  man  of  th'e  south  to  be  a  worshiper  at  Jerusalem  and  to  be 
baptized  on  his  way  home  to  his  south  land,  to  plant  the  stiHidard  of 
Christ  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth ;  that  caused  Socrates  to 
be  as  the  forerunner  of  Christianity  in  Greece.  The  best  thoughts  of 
the  heathens  on  law  and  jurisprudence,  on  morality  and  forms  of  wor- 
ship, in  plans  of  temples  and  altars,  were  all  borrowed  from  the  Jews. 

After  this  acme  of  Hebrew  civilization  there  was  a  decline  brought 
on  by  idolatry  introduced  by  Solomon  to  accommodate  his  heathen 
wives,  who,  like  Delilah  overcame  Samson,  persuaded  him  to  do  it, 
until  the  whole  of  the  two  nations,  Israel  and  Judah,  were  defeated 
and  led  away  captive,  one  in  Assyria  the  other  in  Babylon. 

Then  it  was,  as  it  is  often  said  in  history,  the  conquerors  learned 
superior  wisdom  from  those  they  conquered.  For  both  the  Assyrians 
and  Babylonians  were  greatly  improved  in  religious  thought  and 
practice  by  association  with  their  Jewish  captives,  Nebuchadnezzar, 
Darius,  Ahasuerus  and  Cyrus  are  witnesses,  as  was  Alexander  the 
Third,  afterward  convinced  of  the  true  God  by  contact  with  the  Jews 
— acknowledged  Him — ascribed  his  victories  to  His  lielp — and  be- 
lieved certain  prophecies  of  Daniel  were  fulfilled  in  himself.  Which 
are  now  so  understood. 

One  writer  says  the  Jews  were  refined  by  contact  with  the  Greeks. 
But  that  is  not  true,  for  the  Greeks,  as  did  the  Egyptians,  Asiatic 
and  Roman  conquerors,  tried  to  corrupt  the  Jev/s  by  enforcing  their 
notions  upon  them  with  their  customs,  which  the  Jews  always 
resisted,  and  that,  when  resistance  was  equivalent  to  death.  Many 
of  them  "died  the  death"  rather  than  be  polluted  by  heathen  cus- 
toms. All  those  nations  that  in  successive  terms  conquered  the  Jews 
learned  superior  wisdom  from  them,  and  did  truly  acknowledge  it. 

In  the  age  of  the  Asmonean  Dynasty  the  Jews  were  again  in  high 
repute.  Now  some  of  their  proj)hecies  concerning  themselves,  as 
a  nation,  were  happily  fulHlled,  and  Jerusalem  \vas  again  the  centre 
of  light  to  the  nations.  She  was  as  a  city  set  on  a  hill  whose  light 
could  not  be  hid.  (Matt.  5  :14:).  Now  all  those  nations  were  more 
or  less  convinced  of  the  divine  origin  of  the  Jews'  religion ;  acknowl- 
edged it  too.  They  all  held  the  Jewish  prophets,  priests,  and  espe- 
cially their  successive  High  Priests,  in  very  high  respect. 

MJiny  Christian  wn-iters  believe  that  in  these  sufferings  His  provi- 
dejice  allowed  these  heathen  nations  to  inflict  upon  His  chosen  peo- 
ple. Pie  the  more  effectually  prepared  the  nations  for  the  reception 
of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  when  it  should  be  preaclied  to  them.  Which 
is  true,  as  history  .shows. 

The  coming  of  Christ,  His  holy,  extraordinary  life,  His  perfect 
ministry,  wonderful  works,  crucifixion,  resurrection,  a.scension,  com- 
ing of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  His  fullness  on  that  day  of  pentecost,  and 
the  snread  of  Christianity  with  her  institutions,  wrought  very  great 


176.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

improvement  in  all  the  then  known  world  of  mankind.  Within  the 
first  three  centuries  of  this  era  all  the  then  known  governments  came 
to  favor  Christianity.  The  moi-al  sense  of  society  was  everywhere 
elevated  to  what  it  was  before.  Refinement  removing  the  coarse  and 
the  rough  out  of  it.  The  arts,  sciences,  philosophy  and  general 
learning  were  cultivated  and  encouraged  throughout  Christendom. 
But  after  that  happy  period  a  decline  followed  until  mankind  brought 
on  themselves  a  millennium  of  darkness. 

Emerging  from  this  there  has  been  a  long  and  quite  a  steady 
improvement.  And  as  all  that  were  before  it,  it  began  in  the 
improvement  of  the  moral  sense  of  mankind.  Now  it  seems  that 
every  line  is  drawn  to  its  utmost  tension,  and  what  the  result  shall 
be  the  Lord  only  knows.  Many  Christian  writers  have  said  of  late 
that  there  is  a  decadence  of  the  moral  sense  of  the  public  masses  of 
mankind  both  in  Europe  and  in  America.    If  so,  it  portends  no  good. 

Not  that  the  people  can  learn  too  much,  but  they  can  run  their 
learning,  as  anything  else,  into  vanity.  And  God  will  curse  it  with 
judicial  blindness,  as  He  did  the  Jews  for  their  obstinacy  against  the 
Gospel  of  Christ.  We  would  do  well  to  take  warning  here.  If  it 
does  not  acknowledge  Him,  is  not  used  for  His  glory,  we  cannot  ex- 
pect His  blessing  upon  our  learning,  nor  upon  our  enterprises.  The 
help  of  the  intellect,  as  of  the  heart,  is  of  God.  Men  should  not  try 
to  do  Him  out  of  either ;  but  should  acknowledge  His  help  in  both 
and  in  both  submit  to  His  rule.  Otherwise  it  is  like  building  a  Babel 
tower  against  His  providence,  and  instead  of  its  being  real  wisdom, 
and  true  knowledge,  it  will  be  only  confusion. 

One  of  the  faults  of  the  general  system  of  learning  today,  is  they 
try  to  learn  too  many  things  at  once,  which  creates  confusion  and 
they  do  not  learn  what  they  ought  to  best  know,  so  as  to  use  it  to 
advantage.  If  the  errors  we  pointed  out  before,  and  now,  were  elim- 
inated from  the  text  books  and  they  studied  only  the  truth,  it  would 
be  far  better.  This  is  true  both  in  Europe  and  in  America.  If  the 
reform  I  speak  of  should  prevail,  it  would  give  us  a  more  accurate 
and  better  scholarship.  We  would  have  more,  truer  and  better 
learning.  The  people  will  demand  it ;  they  are  very  tired  of  the 
present  system. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


No  DOUBT  it  would  be  within  the  truth  to  say  that  in  the  reign  of 
David  the  throne  of  Israel  was  one  of  the  greatest  powers  in  the  whole 
world.  He  was  greatly  admired  by  the  other  rulers,  and  some  of 
them  made  treaties  with  him.  And  Solomon  was  sought  unto  by  all 
the  rulers,  to  hear  his  wonderful  wisdom,  to  see  his  improvements, 
his  prosperity,  and  the  magnificent  temple  he  had  built.  So  favora- 
bly impressed  were  they  with  all,  it  is  said  seven  hundred  of  them 
sought  to  make  affinity  with  him  by  marriage ;  a  temptation  that 
even  the  wisdom  of  Solomon  did  not  resist.  As  a  matter  of  accom- 
modation  to  them,  he  accepted  their  offers. 

This  caused  frequent  visits  of  those  princes  to  his  courts.  The 
Jews,  their  temple,  their  rulers  and  their  government  wei'e  then  the 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  177. 

most  talked  of,  of  any  thing  in  all  the  world.  Whether  they  intended 
it  or  not,  or  whether  Solomon  did  or  did  not,  yet  Providence  carried 
on  a  foreign  missionary  work  throngh  those  indirect  means.  Those 
heathen  rulers  got  many  good  ideas  fi-fem  Solomon  and  his  people. 

Peace  prevailed  then  generally  over  all  the  earth.  As  David  had 
by  inspiration  prayed  for  it  in  Ps.  72;  the  last  on  record  of  Jesse's 
son,  which  prayer  in  type  embraced  the  life  of  Christ  on  earth,  of 
which  the  peace  in  Solomon's  i-eign  was  a  type. 

It  was.  therefore,  a  good  time  for  all  kinds  of  improvements  to 
flourish;  in  Israel  and  in  all  other  lands.  The  heathen  nations  tried 
to  imitate  the  temple  at  Jerusalem.  Hence  the  improvements  they 
made  in  temples  and  altars.  They  incorporated  some  parts  of  Juda- 
ism into  their  forms  of  worship;   into  their  morals  and  philosophy. 

Whatever  of  semblance  to  Judaism  in  them  is  found,  was  gotten 
in  this  way,  except  what  each  people  liad  preserved  from  the  disper- 
sion at  the  tower  of  Babel.  And  whatever  of  thought  and  act  is  seen 
among  their  writings  that  is  like  any  of  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  is 
borrowed  from  that  one  revelation  of  truth  which  God  made  to  man 
from  the  beginning,  and  made  it  more  and  more  clearly  seen,  until 
the  volume  of  the  book  sublime  and  holy,  was  complete. 

In  the  Sanskrit  philosophy,  Buddhism,  Confucianism,  and  in  all 
tlie  rest  of  them,  everything  good  in  them  is  no  reflection  against  the 
Bible,  for  they  were  indebted  to  the  Bible;  and  to  the  same  source, 
tlirough  tliat  revealment  which  the  Lord  gave  from  tlie  first  to  all 
men  ;  that  much  of  it  they  have  in  some  way  preserved,  however  cor- 
rupt it  is.  Because  when  they  knew  God — all  knew  Him  then, 
before  the  dispersion  at  the  tower  of  Babel — they  glorified  Him  not 
as  God.  He  gave  them  up  and  their  foolish  hearts  being  darkened  by 
sin — the  sin  of  idolatry  at  that — this  was  the  best  they  could  do  of 
themselves.     (Rom.  1:25-28). 

They  were  like  unto  him  who  ])uried  his  talent  and  lost  it,  and  the 
Judge  of  all  gave  it  to  those  who  would  use  it  best.  Hence  when  they 
found  His  truest  friend  in  Abraham,  He  gave  him  the  most.  There- 
fore, His  posterity,  through  Isaac  and  Jacob,  excelled  all  of  the 
ancients  in  religion  and  civilization. 

Among  those  heathens  ai"e  found  some  of  the  facts  of  Creation,  of 
Eden,  of  mairs  temptation  and  his  fall,  of  the  flood,  of  the  ark,  and 
of  the  tower  of  Babel ;  showing  that  they  got  them  either  after  the 
time  of  Moses,  or  preserved  them  among  their  people  from  the  dis- 
persion at  the  tower  of  Babel.  The  truth  of  it  in  many  cases.  I  think, 
is  they  carried  them  with  them  in  that  dispersion  and  translated 
them  the  best  they  could,  each  tribe,  into  those  new  languages  then 
given  them  of  the  Lord,  This  much  of  revealed  truth  was  preserved 
by  them  ;  which  answers  as  a  witness  of  what  is  written  in  the  Bible. 

Rev.  D.  W.  Carter,  a  missionary  to  Mexico,  says  in  writing  of  the 
pyramid  of  Cholula:  "A  modern  writer  says  of  this  pyramid:  The 
date  of  its  building  is  unknown.  It  was  there  before  the  Aztecs 
came,  and  they  were  told  that  it  had  been  built  by  a  race  of  giants 
descended  from  the  two  survivors  of  a  great  flood  that  overspread  the 
land.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  builders,  the  legend  goes,  to  I'aise 
Its  height  to  Heaven,  but  they  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  gods, 


178.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

who  sent  forth  fires  and  destroyed  them."  This  legend,  in  its  way, 
bears  witness  of  the  flood,  that  it  was  in  America  as  well  as  in  Asia, 
that  some  who  lived  before  the  flood  survived  it,  and  that  the  account 
of  the  building  of  the  tower  0^  Babel,  and  its  defeat,  was  known  to 
those  who  built  this  pyramid ;  and  shows  that  they  emigrated  to 
America  from  a  place  where  those  facts  were  known  ;  and  that  they 
brought  with  them  a  higher  civilization  than  they  sustained  after 
coming  into  America. 

When  I  was  a  small  child  an  old  colored  family  auntie,  of  a  very 
dark  complexion,  told  me  that  God  sent  His  Son  into  this  world,  that 
men  killed  Him,  cut  Him  to  pieces,  put  Him  into  a  large  barrel,  put 
rocks  upon  Him,  but  they  could  not  hold  Him  down — He  would  rise 
and  live  again  in  spite  of  all  they  could  do  to  keep  Him  down. 

Now  she  had  the  main  facts,  with  some  errors,  and  drew  upon  her 
imagination  to  fill  out  her  story.  On  the  plantation,  she  had  seen 
pork  killed,  cut  up  and  barreled  and  weighted  on  top  to  protect  it 
from  cats  and  rats  or  any  creature  that  might  prey  upon  it.  So  it  is 
in  regard  to  all  those  heathen  traditions,  they  have  both  truth  and 
error  mixed  together.  The  truth  in  them  is  only  so  much  of  the  real 
facts  recorded  in  the  Bible;  while  the  errors  are  their  own  creations 
to  fill  out  their  story. 

In  the  Atlanta  Journal  of  September  11,  1900,  is  an  article  quoted 
from  the  Philadelphia  North  American  on  the — so-called — evidence 
that  Noah  was  a  Chinaman  ;  in  which  the  writer  alludes  to  a  Chinese 
traditional  account  of  the  flood,  which  afterward  became  a  written 
legend. 

As  a  matter  of  course  all  of  the  early  tribes  of  men  after  the  flood, 
out  of  which  came  the  nations  of  the  whole  earth,  were  familiar  with 
all  the  facts  of  the  flood,  and  of  all  others  in  any  way  connected  with 
them,  as  taught  them  by  those  eight  persons  saved  in  the  ark.  And 
they  preserved  them  the  best  they  could  ;  hence  in  all  ancient  nations 
and  people,  as  far  as  we  have  found,  are  traditions  or  legends  of  the 
flood;  which  are  only  so  many  collateral  evidences  of  the  great  fact 
of  the  flood,  as  the  Almighty  had  it  recorded  in  the  Bible;  and  since 
there  is  so  much  collateral  proof,  surely  no  informed  person  can 
doubt  the  fact  of  the  flood  as  the  Lord  has  had  it  preserved  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures. 

The  writer  claims  this  legend  as  proof  that  Noah  was  a  Chinaman, 
and  says:  "To  the  supporter  of  this  theoi'y  of  Noah's  origin  the 
the  tenth  chapter  of  Genesis  which  names  the  children  of  the  sons  of 
Noah,  as  'the  Hivite,  the  Arkite,  and  the  Sinites,'  provides  evidence 
as  Sinas  or  Sinim  was  the  ancient  name  given  to  China  in  Sanskrit 
records." 

The  names  quoted  above  from  Genesis,  tenth  chapter,  are  in  the 
seventeenth  verse;  and  the  fifteenth  verse  shows  that  they  were  the 
sons  of  Canaan.  Now  Canaan  was  the  son  of  Ham,  Ham  was  the  son 
of  Noah  and  Noah  was  the  son  of  Lamech  before  the  flood ;  so  if  the 
Chinese  were  derived  from  Sinim,  Noah's  grandson,  how  could  Noah 
be  a  Chinaman? 

He  adds,  "Some  believe  that  Moses,  or  whoever  was  the  author  of 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  ITV). 

Genesis  and  the  story  of  tlie  Hood,  had  seen  the  Oh i nose  historical 
records  and  seeiii'ed  this  material  for  the  account  from  tliem." 

Now  if  tlie  reader  will  consider  the  distance  from  C!hina  to  Egypt, 
or  Midian.  or  Canaan,  and  the  inconveniences  of  travel  in  those  days, 
it  will  not  appear  at  all  probable  that  Moses  nor  any  of  those  people 
had  any  communications  with  China.  The  Bible  nor  any  historical 
work  mentions  no  such  a  thing.  The  Hebrews  instead  of  having  any 
dealings  with  the  Chinese,  seem  to  have  been  ignorant  of  their  exist- 
ence. Nor  does  it  appear  that  the  Greeks  and  Romans  knew  any 
moi'e  of  them  than  did  the  Israelites. 

Again,  if  the  Chinese  are  derived  from  the  Canaanites  they  mu^t 
be  younger,  as  a  nation,  than  the  nation  of  Israel  founded  upon  the 
overthrow  of  the  Canaanites  by  Israel  under  ]Moses  and  Joshua;  for 
there  is  no  evidence  but  that  all  of  the  Canaanites  dwelt  in  the  land 
of  Canaan  until  the  time  of  the  conquest  of  their  country  by  the 
children  of  Israel.  So  if  that  was  the  origin  of  China,  as  a  nation, 
there  would  be  no  possibility  for  Moses  to  have  seen  that  legend ;  for 
China  would  have  been  non-existent  in  Moses'  day. 

Some  of  the  Canaanites  may  have  escaped,  for  aught  I  know,  into 
Central  Asia  and  planted  the  Chinese  nation  ;  but  it  seems  to  me  far 
more  probable  that  the  Chinese  descended  from  Shem ;  however, 
some  foreign  missionaries  think  Sinim  in  the  49:12  of  the  prophet 
Isaiah  refers  to  China.  If  so,  I  think  it  was  a  Sinim  in  Shem's  line 
that  gave  his  name  to  ancient  China.  I  do  not  think  that  the  Chi- 
nese themselves  mean  to  be  understood  that  they  are  Hamites. 

The  writer  referred  to  above  seems  to  incline  to  the  idea  that  China 
was  the  first  settled  country  after  the  flood;  but  according  to  the 
Bible,  the  first  settlements  of  men  after  the  flood  were  in  the  lands  of 
Babylonia,  Assyria,  Egj'pt,  Syria,  Philistia  and  Canaan,  all  adjacent 
to  Mount  Ararat  in  Armenia.  No  doubt  but  they  sought  for  tlie 
lands  occupied,  as  they  knew  before  the  flood,  which  were  these  very 
countries;  according  to  the  records  as  found  in  the  Bible. 

Finally,  this  writer  seems  to  prefer  the  Chinese  junk  to  the  ark  of 
safety  of  the  Bible.  It  seems,  however,  that  he  could  see  that  the 
junk  would  be  very  unfortunate  protection  in  the  time  of  such  a 
flood  as  that,  from  the  fact  that  the  junk  is  open  at  the  top,  and  the 
rain  would  not  only  wet  the  passengers,  but  would  fill  the  junk  full 
enough  with  water  to  sink  it.  Then  those  in  it  would  be  no  better 
off  than  without.  No  junk  could  have  crossed  those  waters  into  the 
post-diluvian  world.  Nothing  except  such  an  ark  of  safety  as  the 
Lord  enabled  Noah  to  build  could  have  made  that  voyage. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


When  Mahomet  wanted  to  impose  his  invention  upon  the  world  he 
borrowed  largely  from  both  the  .Jews  and  the  Christians.  Took  out 
of  both  Testaments  what  he  thought  would  answer  his  purpo.se,  and 
tried  to  destroy  the  rest;  as  popery  has  done  all  along,  and  would  do 
today  if  it  could,  as  the  many  evidences  of  old,  and  of  late,  abund- 
antly show.  Mahomet  found  that  the  Arabs  descended  from  Abra- 
ham  through    Ishmael ;    that    the   Jews   ami    (-hristians    both    nuide 


180.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

much  of  their  descent  from  that  great  patriarch,  the  first  after  the 
fiesh,  the  second  after  the  spirit.  So  he  thought  if  he  could  destroy 
the  means,  he  could  by  the  extremes  make  out  that  he  was  God's 
pi'ophet,  descended  from  Abraham. 

Whatever  of  good  is  in  Moslemism,  is  not  against  the  Bible,  as 
some  want  to  array  everything  of  the  kind  wherever  found,  but  is  so 
much  in  favor  of  the  Bible;  for  it  was  taken  from  the  Bible.  Like 
the  heathen  philosophies,  it  has  no  independent  source  of  its  own. 
Whatever  of  good  is  in  any  of  them  is  borrowed  from  that  one  reve- 
lation God  made  to  man,  as  is  set  forth  in  His  written  word ;  and  the 
evil  in  all  of  them  is  a  fraud  of  the  devil.  They  are  doctrines  of  devils, 
(1  Tim.  4:1).  Their  worship  is  sacrificing  to  devils.  (1  Cor.  10:20). 
And  some,  as  of  old,  say,  show  us  a  miracle. 

If  the  enlightenment  of  nominal  Christian  nations  should  so  degen- 
erate as  for  physical  miracles  to  be  necessary  again,  perhaps  He 
would  grant  them  to  be  performed  for  the  salvation  of  unbelievers. 
But  He  will  not  do  it  to  gratify  any  one's  curiosity;  nor  for  any  who 
are  capable  of  receiving  the  truth  through  the  ordinary — the  higher 
channels.  He  did  not  do  it  for  the  Greeks  when  asked;  neither  did 
He  do  it  for  Herod  when  desired.  Nor  did  He  for  the  Jews — He  comes 
to  no  man's  terms.  But  every  one  has  to  come  to  His  terms,  or  he 
Avill  go  unblest,  and  be  cursed ;  even  as  the  obstinacy  of  the  ancient 
tribes  of  mankind,  after  the  dispersion  from  the  plains  of  Shinar, 
worried,  so  to  speak,  the  patience  of  God  until  He  gave  them  up. 
(Rom.  1:24-28).  For  the  same  reason.  He  afterward  temporarily 
abandoned  His  chosen  ones  in  the  days  preceding  their  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Assyrians  and  Babylonians.  And  in  the  days  of  the 
Christ  on  earth ;  and  in  the  time  of  His  apostles ;  for  the  obstinacy 
of  restored  Israel,  He  has  now  for  a  long  season  abandoned  them, 
sending  upon  them  judicial  blindness,  as  He  did  afore  iipon  the  stub- 
born heathen.  So  they  cannot  for  the  time  being,  see  the  truth — for 
the  lasting  perpetuity  of  their  obstinacy  is  veiled  by  unbelief — blind- 
ed by  the  god  of  this  world — are  a  miserable  prey  to  falsehood. 

But  for  them  is  a  promised  return  of  the  true  light,  and  of  their 
return  as  a  nation,  held  out  in  botli  Testaments,  of  the  rending  of  the 
veil — of  the  blindness  healed. 

While  the  Gentile  world  is  being  enriched  by  their  loss,  the  time  is 
coming,  no  doubt  approaching,  when  the  nations  of  Christendom,  for 
a  large  part,  will  need  such  a  witness,  and  the  Jew  will  be  blest  with 
it,  and  they  will  be  blest  through  Him.     (Zech.  14:9). 

Tiiere  is  another  parallel  illustration.  In  the  centuries  following 
the  days  of  the  apostles  of  Christ,  the  Uirger  part  of  the  professors  of 
Christianity  lapsing  into  Judaism  on  the  one  hand,  and  into  heath- 
ism  on  the  other,  God  calling  again,  and  again,  for  the  expulsion  of 
these  things,  and  they  as  often  refusing  to  let  them  go,  at  last  the 
patience  of  God,  as  it  were,  was  so  wearied  with  them,  that  He 
moved  the  good  to  depart  out  from  among  them,  that  they  might 
escape.  The  rest  He  visited  with  judicial  blindness.  And  so  misera- 
bly blind  did  they  become,  that  they  set  up  popery;  or  their  minds 
were  so  dark  that  they  suffered  it  to  be  done,  and  over  themselves, 
at  that,  as  St.  Paul  and  others  did  tell  beforehand ;  which  is  the  pro- 


THE  STORY  OF  ORKATTOX.  ISl. 

phetic  man  of  sin,  the  valican  being  tlie  head.  (2  Tlies.  2:^3-12,  and 
1  Tim.  i  :!-;>.)  And  every  preaclier  would  do  well  to  often  read  and 
study  the  sixth  verse  of  tliis  last  chapter  referred  to. 

Some  systems  of  evil  are  so  gross,  so  palpable,  that  they  are  com- 
pared to  beasts  of  prey.  But  this  is  so  adroit,  so  deceitful,  so  diplo- 
matic, that  it  is  compared  to  a  man.  It  is  so  elastic,  subtile,  satanic, 
that  it  is  called  "Spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places" — in  ecclesias- 
tical offices;  seeking  all  mankind,  and  all  of  their  wealth,  as  a  steal- 
thy beast  of  prey.  Getting  that  prey  as  far  as  they  can  by  clandes- 
tine, undermining  metliods,  and  openly  and  ferociously,  wherever 
they  dare  to  imcover  tliemselves  in  their  true  character. 

This  "mystery  of  iniquity"  lias  brouglit  upon  themselves  and  upon 
others,  all  of  the  untold  miseries  that  have  followed  from  that  source. 
And  yet  that  veil  is  upon  their  heart,  and  that  blindness  on  their 
mind  unto  this  day.  (2  Cor.  8  :14-16).  But  God  will,  destroy  it  by 
"the  brightness  of  His  coming,"  through  His  Word  and  Spirit,  in 
true  evangelical  Christianity. 

When  they  turn  to  God.  as  they  ought,  oven  at  all  hazards.  He 
shall  deliver  them  from  this  "man  of  sin"  and  all  of  his  oppressions. 
IS"ot  by  a  bloody  "Armageddon,"  (Rev.  16:16),  but  by  a  bloodless 
victor}'  of  the  truth  of  (rod  over  all  error.  For  that  conflict  is  to  be 
between  truth  and  error.  It  is  God's  figlit.  It  is  called  the  day  of 
God  Almighty. 

There  will  be  coml)iriod  forces  agalnt  God  In  His  written  Word  and 
in  His  true  spiritual  churcli.  And  God  in  Christ  Jesus  in  His 
revealed  will  and  truth  shall  be  victorious.  All  error  shall  go.  The 
error  that  is  in  philosophy  and  science,  in  lieathenism,  in  Moham- 
medism,  in  Romanism,  and  everywhere  else  that  is  of  a  moral  nature 
— opposed  to  God  and  to  His  true  revelation  He  has  made  to  man — 
will  be  swept  away  in  that  triumph  of  Christianity,  in  her  true  doc- 
trine and  her  holy  life.  These  errors  will  have  to  go.  If  not  before, 
they  will  in  the  bloodless  victory  of  Armageddon. 

I  mean  no  harm  to  anybody.  I  only  see  the  truth  as  God  gives  me 
to  see  it ;  and  express  it  as  He  gives  me  to  express  it.  I  believe 
whatever  of  error  there  is  in  any  system  of  thought  and  life  will  be 
purged  away,  and  the  truth  that  may  be  found  in  any  of  them  shall 
live.  There  are  none  totalh'  destitute  of  all  truth.  There  are  some 
grains  of  truth  in  every  one.  There  is  a  nucleus  of  truth  around 
which  every  one  crystallizes,  and  for  whi.-h  it  stands.  Which,  I  sup- 
pose, is  as  the  salt  that  iiow  saves  the  organization  of  each  in  spite  of 
the  error  it  carries. 

But  that  day  is  to  try  tliem  all,  (1  ('ov.  o :!'?),  for  now  already  the 
ax  is  laid  at  the  foot  of  tiie  trees,  (Matt,  ;>:!()),  the  evil  to  destroy, 
the  good  to  spare;  wliich  ax  is  the  true  Gospel  of  ('hrist  Jesus.  Dead, 
decaying,  dying,  fruitless  branches  lopped  oif,  and  the  fruit  bearing 
ones  pruned  to  bear  more  fruit,     (John  ir):2). 

Sometimes  I  think  we  should  have  more  sympatiiy  for  tliose  who 
may  not  believe  as  we  <lo  In  a  true  spiritual  religion  than  we  are  often 
disposed  to  exercise,  P'or  if  the  better  should  not  sympathize  with 
them,  how  could  they  in  their  weaker  condition  have  charity  for 
them?     As  the  Scripture  says,  "The  strong  ought  to  bear  the  Infirm- 


182.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

ilies  of  the  weak."'  (Rom.  15: 1-7).  And  ]iow  do  we  know  but  the 
Lord  will  cause  the  good  that  is  in  them  so  to  develop  as  to  pvirge 
out  the  bad.  I  have  lioped  that  that  is  the  kind  of  a  reformation 
which  will  reach  the  desired  end. 

But  aside  from  all  denominations  and  systems  are  those  who  for 
reasons  best  known  to  themselves,  with  either  minds  befuddled  or 
hearts  more  vricked,  who  seem  to  prefer  the  heathen  legends  to  the 
Bible  account  on  the  same  subjects.  But  at  that  we  need  not  be  dis- 
appointed for  the  Scriptures  say,  ''none  of  the  wicked  shall  under- 
stand; but  the  wise  shall  understand."  (Dan.  12:10).  1  Cor.  2:14-15 
teaches  the  same  fact  with  its  reasons.  So  it  is  of  no  use  for  others 
to  look  to  the  unrenewed  in  heart  as  leaders  in  thought.  And  espe- 
cially the  prejudiced  for  they  are  under  blindiiess  on  account  of  their 
sins.  (.John  3:19-21).  It  is  sent  upon  them  as  a  just  condemnation 
for  the  evil  principles  they  have  held  in  their  hearts,  which  have 
crystallized  in  wicked  speeches  and  bad  acts — when  occasion  served 
them  for  so  doing.  A  moral  darkness  therefore  envelopes  their  spir- 
its so  they  are  incapable  of  reasoning  correctly  upon  the  teaching  of 
the  Bible.  (Rom.  11:8-11).  Especially  on  regeneration  and  its  cog- 
nate doctrines.  (John  9  :89-41).  Christ  says,  "If  any  man  will  do 
His  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,'"  (.John  7:17),  otherwise  his 
heart  will  be  shut  against  spiritual  understanding,  and  his  mind 
darkened  on  account  of  sin  and  guilt.    (Acts  16:14,  Luke  24:45). 

As  to  the  frivolous,  fickle  mind  of  many  in  France,  they  have  long 
since  ceased  to  think.  They  don't  want  to  think.  They  want  to  enjoy 
themselves.  But  alas,  have  lost  the  way !  It  is  a  pity  that  our  peo- 
ple have  looked  to  them  as  leaders  in  fashions.  O,  the  pity  of  it! 
Truly  blest  are  they  who  walk  not  in  the  counsel  of  the  ungodly.  (Ps. 
1 :1).  In  their  moral  blindness  a  few  years  ago  some  of  them  in  Paris 
tried  to  set  up  Asiatic  idolatry  in  the  midst  of  the  French.  And  for 
the  same  infirmities  some  in  New  York  city  tried  to  set  up  Moham- 
medism. 

It  all  comes  from  the  love  of  sin.  And  God's  curse  is  upon  them. 
Let  truth  and  virtue  resist  the  sin  of  it  all,  and  drive  the  darkness 
back  to  the  place  of  its  rising — the  bottoiriless  pit. 

The  sceptical  German  mind  has  run  in  the  grooves  of  fanaticism, 
on  moral  and  spiritual  questions  so  long  that  it  is  incapable  of  think- 
ing soberly  and  correctly  on  the  teachings  of  the  Bible. 

The  devil  makes  them  think  that  they  have  found  superior  w^isdom, 
but  it  is  folly  and  madness  all.  Let  not  others  be  deceived  by  them. 
"Neither  give  place  to  the  devil."  (Eph.  4:27),  "Resist  the  devil 
and  he  shall  flee  from  you."     (.lames  4:7). 


CHAPTER  YIII. 


It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  Adam  was  wiser  than  Cain  or  Abel. 
For  he  was  an  adult  man  physically,  mentally,  morally  and  spirit- 
ually when  created.  As  if  fully  grown,  or  perfectly  developed.  He 
was  perfect  in  all  these  respects.  He  lived  more  or  less  time  in  this 
happy  state,  without  sin ;  we  are  not  informed  as  to  the  length  of 
time,  we  know  not  how  long.     Such  a  one  has  a  very  great  advan- 


TIIK  STORY  OF  CREATION.  188. 

tage  in  all  these  things  over  others  less  fortunate.  The  Jews  must 
have  thought  so  when  they  said  to  one,  "Thou  wast  altogether  born 
in  sin,  and  dost  thou  teach  us?"  (John  9:84).  Wiiile  Cain  and 
Abel,  as  all  since  have  been,  were  born  in  sin,  and  had  to  struggle 
against  a  sinful  nature  in  themselves,  which  had  a  deleterious  effect 
on  them  in  resisting  outward  temptations. 

Adam  and  Eve  having  such  a  great  start  had  superior  strength  in 
all  these  respects  over  their  children.  You  may  tliiid<:,  however,  that 
their  children  had  them  to  warn  and  teach  them  whereas  Adam  and 
Eve  had  no  human  teachers,  no  examples,  no  precedents  before  them 
to  help  them  in  any  way.  They  had  to  take  the  untried,  unexplored 
Avorkl  barefooted,  and  alone,  upon  the  untried  law  of  God.  And 
doubtless  they  deserve  more  sympathy  than  posterity  is  disposed  to 
give  them. 

In  giving  names  to  the  ditferent  species  of  animals  appropriate  to 
the  nature  and  habits  of  each,  Adam  shows  his  great  insight,  beyond 
what  any  man  has  since  done  in  natural  history. 

If  you  can't  accept  that  statement  you  will  have  to  admit  this,  the 
Lord  inspired  him  for  it.  And  as  far  as  we  know  the  same  names  are 
retained  to  this  day;  carried  on  through  the  different  branches  of  the 
Adamic  language  given  to  them  in  the  day  of  their  Creation.  Adam 
was  well  prepared  to  understand  and  to  retain  all  these  things  in 
memory,  and  perhaps  in  writing  too. 

The  Loi'd  did  not  have  any  of  the  New  Testament  written  while 
He  was  on  earth,  but  enabled  the  apostles  to  hold  it  in  memory  and 
gave  the  Holy  (xhost  to  bring  all  things  to  their  minds  again  which 
He  had  said  unto  them,  as  He  had  promised  them  before  He  was 
taken  up  from  them.  So  in  the  case  of  Adam,  no  doubt;  for  the 
Lord  always  helps  mankind  as  they  have  need.  And  Adam  retained 
them  in  memory  as  long  as  he  lived,  handed  them  down  to  his  pos- 
terity and,  perhaps,  saw  them  correctly  written.  Josephus  says, 
'"Those  that  then  lived  kept  a  correct  record  of  the  births  of  the 
illustrious  ones  among  them  ])efore  the  Hood.  So  in  computing 
chronology  they  were  governed  bv  the  births  and  had  no  regard  to 
deaths." 

I  have  myself  known  people  to  recite  a  great  deal  of  history  by 
referring  to  the  dates  of  births  wdiich  they  had  held  in  memory. 
Many  a  pedigree  has  been  handed  down  in  that  way.  It  was  quite 
common  in  the  early  settling  of  this  country  by  the  whites. 

Mankind  have  always  adapted  themselves  to  their  necessities. 
They  did  then  sis  we  v/ould  do  now  under  similar  circumstances.  The 
known  present  is  the  best  criterion  by  which  to  judge  the  unknown 
past.  Doubtless  the  Creator  instructed  them  in  all  earthly  things, 
which  were  done  before  their  own  Creation,  for  their  own  happiness, 
and  for  the  happiness  of  their  posterity.  .\nd  especially  necessary 
would  this  be  after  they  had  sinned.  For  then  a  change  in  Divine 
administration  toward  man  went  into  effect;  and  the  composition  of 
the  Bible  was  then  obliged  to  begin;  for  it  is  the  concretion  of  all 
the  abstract  principles  that  were  (hen  beginning  in  process  of  devel- 
opment. And  it  was  well  for  Adam  and  Eve  to  be  well  instructed  in 
the  past  administration  undtM-  whicli  tliey  lived   before  they  fell,  as 


181.  •  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

well  as  ill  the  new  then  setting  in,  under  which  they  were  now  phicecl, 
in  hope  of  the  promise  of  redemption  then  given  to  them.  From 
that  time  forward  ^'hey  were  well  prepared  of  the  Lord  for  the  high 
commission  as  our  fedei'al  heads  given  unto  them,  and  they  filled  it 
well,  as  the  sacred  record  shows. 

They  carried  all  this  information  with  them  as  the  most  precious 
heritage  for  themselves  and  their  children,  and  in  some  way,  through 
Providence,  handed  them  down  to  coming  generations  as  wo  have 
them  today  in  the  blessed  book  of  Genesis.  Than  which  there  is 
Jiothing  outside  the  Bible  that  equals  it,  and  nothing  in  all  the  Scrip- 
tures that  excels  it  in  grandeur  of  thought,  in  sublimity  and  natur- 
alness of  expression,  in  purity  of  diction  and  elegancy  of  style.  As 
all  the  other  books  of  the  Scriptures  it  shows  it  came  from  the  same 
Author,  He  who  grew  no  wiser  after  He  began  than  He  was  before, 
and  lost  none  of  His  wisdom  and  power  as  long  as  He  continued, 
until  He  finished  and  forbid  any  more  to  be  added  to  the  happy  vol- 
ume. No  other  book  was  ever  so  long  in  process  of  composition 
and  writing,  yet  it  sustains  the  same  loftj^  style  of  thought  and  ex- 
pression from  beginning  to  end.     Truly  it  is  Divine. 

Much  of  this  original. strength  of  body,  mind  and  soul  were  retained 
in  tiie  race  in  the  first  ages  of  the  world  as  is  shown  in  the  lives  of 
the  great  patriarchs  before  and  a  few  centuries  after  the  flood. 

Josephus  says,  "That  Grod  spared  them  thus  long  on  account  of 
tlieir  piety,  and  for  the  sake  of  learning."  That  they  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  astronomj^  a.nd  also  of  mathematics.  That  it  was  necessary 
for  some  to  live  over  six  hundred  years  to  make  astronomical  obser- 
vations; for  it  takes  six  hundred  years  to  make  the  great  year — so 
as  to  get  the  correct  basis  for  that  science  as  known  to  man.  It 
would  be  but  a  reasonable  supposition  that  even  with  the  crudest 
means  they  would  acquire  a  vast  amount  of  knowledge  in  six  or  nine 
hundred  years  and  more.  They  made  good  use  of  their  opportunities 
and  the  world  is  indebted  to  them  today  for  their  knowledge  and  piety. 

Kut  on  account  of  man's  sins  (irod  shortened  his  days  on  the  earth, 
and  it  must  have  also  affected  his  mental  powers  too.  The  history 
shows  that  tlie  wicked  among  them  were  using  their  mental  as  well 
as  tlieir  physical  powei'S  in  wrong  doing.  So  a  righteous  Judge  weak- 
ened them  in  both  ;  and  as  in  all  public  calaiuities,  the  good  and  the 
bad  suffered  together. 

The  decree  took  effect  gradually  from  the  flood  until  few  could 
reach  the  hundredth  year.  Every  other  power  in  man's  constitution- 
was  obliged  to  sympatliize  witJi  his  shortened  life  and  bodily  infirmi- 
ties, hence  the  mercy  of  God  pitied  man,  and  winked  at  many  of  his 
shortcomings,  (Acts  17:80);  until  he  received  help  through  tlie 
preaching  of  tlie  cross  of  Christ.  But  the  Blst  verse  shows  He  no 
longer  winks  at  the  sin  of  it,  but  holds  all  henceforth  to  a  strict 
account.  Under  the  circumstances  then  existing  the  deterioration 
was  obliged  to  go  on  until  the  better  hope  was  given. 

From  the  dispersion  of  Babel  there  was  a  decline  throughout  the 
race.  All  nations  felt  and  owned  it,  hence  we  find  them  as  Confucius 
and  Virgil  looking  back  to  a  golden  past. 

Chinese  history  it  is  said  goes  back  as- far  as  2G8T  years  B.  C. ;  that 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATTOX.  185. 

tlu'ir  civilization  is  8000  years  old.  To  the  Hood  thai  would  doubtless 
be.  It  is  also  said  tliat  theO'hinese  have  governmental  annals  which 
date  back  in  unbroken  succession  unto  !2(i98  years  before  the  birtli  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

If  both  it  and  our  chronolosjy  in  our  authorized  version  of  the  l^ible 
are  correct,  it  would  reach  beyond  the  flood.  But  I  believe  the  flood 
was  several  centuries  later  than  our  authorized  chronology  puts  it. 
For  it  would  imply  that  Lamech  and  JMethuselah  lived  while  Noah 
was  building  the  ark.  Both  good  and  righteous  men.  Whereas  the 
Lord  said  to  Noah,  "For  thee  have  I  seen  righteous  before  me  in 
this  generation."  The  inference  is,  1  think,  when  Noah  was  called 
to  build  the  ark  he  was  the  only  righteous  man  then  living  in  the 
world.  And  I  think  if  Methuselah  and  Lamech  had  been  living  then 
they  could  have  influenced  the  rest  to  do  better.  And  it  does  seem 
that  the  constraining  influence  of  Enoch  for  good  would  have  lived 
longer  than  that.  I  think  the  text  carries  evidence  in  itself  to  show 
that  the  flood  was  several  centuries  farther  into  time  than  it  is  put 
in  our  authorized  chronology.  And  which  agrees  better  with 
Josephus.  the  Septuagint,  and  the  Samaritan  Pentateuch. 

Now  suppose  that  the  Chinese  annals  are  correct,  (2698  B.  C). 
According  to  the  Bible  they  did  not  exist  under  that  name  until  after 
the  dispersion  from  the  tower  of  Babel.  Oar  chronologists  in  the 
authorized  version  puts  that  event  about  102  years  after  the  flood. 
Then  if  the  flood  was  as  much  as  200  years — or  that  much  more  time 
is  not  accounted  for — later  than  they  put  it;  then  add  their  stated 
time  before  the  flood.  1656  years,  it  makes  4656  years  to  the  birth 
of  Christ,  and  1900  since  makes  the  age  of  the  world  6556  years; 
which  is  not  far  from  the  consen-^us  of  christian  writers  on  the 
same  subject. 

The  ideas  of  the  Deity  as  set  forth  in  Brahminism  are,  I  believe, 
imperfect  representations  of  the  original  doctrine  as  taught  in  the 
Scriptures;  which  was  thus  far  retained  among  them,  from  the 
founding  of  their  race,  which  could  not  have  been  until  after  the  dis- 
persion of  men  mentioned  in  Genesis  11  :l-9. 

And  their  reverence  for  the  highest  title  of  the  Godhead — or  trinity 
oif  persons — is  so  much  like  that  of  the  Hebrews  for  the  high  title 
Jehovah,  (Ex.  6:20),  I  think  that  they  must  have  taken  it  from  the 
Hebrew  Scriptures  after  the  days  of  Moses,  or  by  personal  contact 
with  the  Jews — learning  it  from  Jewish  customs. 

There  is  no  probability  that  Moses  ever  had  any  knowledge  of  the 
Hindoos  ;  nor  would  he  have  imitated  anything  of  theirs  if  he  had  had  it. 
\\'hnt  he  wrote  was  commanded  of  God  for  Israel  and  after  for  all 
numkind.  The  Jews  were  too  reverential  to  pronounce  the  name 
Jehovah  in  any  ordinary  discourse,  and  substituted  for  it  "The 
Lord."  I  think  they  got  this  idea  from  Jews  in  the  days  of  Solomon. 
Their  highest  antiquity  of  it  in  their  system  does  not  at  the  farthest 
go  farther  back  than  the  reign  (xf  Solomon  ;  and  his  reign  began  lOl-t 
years  B.  C.  The  similarity,  I  tliink,  shows  that  they  tried  in  this  to 
Imitate  the  Jews. 

^^'hile  their  idea  of  this  highest  person,  leaving  the  mat'.er  of  the 
divine  administration  to  the  second  person  until  the  expiration  of  a 


im.  THE  STOKY  OF  CREATION. 

cert-aiii  time,  is  very  much  like  the  teacliing  of  the  New  Testament. 
(1  Gor.  15:23-28).  This  they  may  have  incorporated  from  the  Chris- 
tians in  the  days  of  Constantine. 

Then  following  that  period  their  idea  of  the  destruction  of  this 
world  is  very  much  like,  that  taught  by  Paul,  Peter  and  other  New 
Testament  writers  on  that  subject. 

If  they  did  not  get  this  from  the  Christians,  nor  from  the  Jews, 
they  had  an  opportunity  to  get  it  from  Enoch ;  as  St.  Jude  says 
Eno.'h  prophesied:  '"Behold  the. Lord  cometh  with  ten  thousand  of 
His  saints  to  execute  judgment  upon  all."  (14,  15  vs.)  And  there 
was  a  tradition  that  Adam  prophesied  that  the  world  would  be  de- 
stroyed first  bj'  a  flood  of  water  and  the  second  time  by  fire. 

Now  all  men  had,  at  first  before  the  flood  and  after  the  flood, 
access  to  all  the  revelation  that  was  given  up  to  the  time  of  the  dis- 
persion at  the  tower  of  Babel.  Then  every  tribe  had  the  opportunity 
of  preserving  all  that  had  been  delivered  up  to  that  time;  and  any 
more  they  may  have  been  favored  with  afterward. 

The  Hindoos  and  the  Chinese,  as  the  Assyrians  and  Babylonians, 
therefore,  had  the  opportunity  of  knowing  and  of  preserving  all  the 
information  that  had  been  given  to  mankind  when  they  were  only 
one  body  and  one  language  only  known  to  them. 

And  all  that  is  true  among  them,  and  the  other  heathens,  or  (len- 
tiles,  are  but  fragments  of  the  original  body  of  truth  revealed  to 
Adam  and  Eve,  and  on,  and  on,  as  the  Lord  added  more  at  times  to 
the  great  patriarchs  unto  the  time  of  the  confounding  of  the  language 
at  Babel.  That  original  revelation  in  its  purity  and  fullness  was  em- 
bodied in  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  and  that  much  of  it  remained 
among  the  other  people  as  these  fragments  of  the  true  show. 

They  did  not  invent  it.  Only  preserved  this  much  of  wliat  was 
given  to  their  forefathers;  or  learned  from  the  children  of  Abraham  ; 
and  lost  the  rest  of  it. 

Confucius  told  his  peoijle  he  did  not  originate  what  he  taught 
them  ;  that  he  only  taught  what  he  learned  from  past  teachers. 
Charles  Spurgeon  said  he  learned  most  from  old  books.  So  Confucius 
was  handing  down  what  he  had  learned  from  the  past;  and  on  his 
own  confession,  only  the  learning  of  the  past.  No  doubt  that  past 
goes  back  to  the  time  when  all  men  were  only  one  race  and  had  the 
same  speech.  And  where  will  we  find  its  beginning?  In  Noah?  In 
Adam?     In  (xod  Himself.     That  is  its  source. 

Their  best  ideas  are  only  fragmental  of  the  perfect  system  of  truth 
which  prevailed  in  that  golden  age  which  Confucius  so  frequently 
referred  to.  It  was  the  Noachic  age.  It  embraced  as  much  as  four 
centuries,  perhaps,  after  the  flood.  It  was  before  the  introduction  of 
idolatry.  Idolatry  ended  that  golden  age.  Broke  down  that  civili- 
zation ;  except  what  was  preserved  in  Shem's  line,  and  a  part  of 
Ham's,  until  Egypt  fell  into  degradation — a  fulfillment  of  prophecy — 
and  brought  in  barbarism.  When  these  are  wiped  from  the  earth 
we  will  have  another  golden  age. 

Confucius  was  always  looking  back  to  a  golden  age.  He  had  an 
idea  of  it.  He  held  it  fast.  But  could  not,  like  the  Hebrew  proph- 
ets, penetrate  the  future — bring  hope  to  himself,  and  comfort  to  his 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATTOX.  •  1S7. 

follows.  They  stuv  a.  ijolden  ago  ahead,  embraced  i(,  (lieb.  11:18, 
John  8 :;")()),  losing  sight  of  the  past,  ministered  of  this  to  their  fel- 
lows; and  to  others  yet  to  come.  (I  Peter  1  :12).  As  is  now  realized 
throughout  all  Christendom. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  Virgil,  if  he  had  never  read  the  writings  of 
Jloses  and  the  prophets,  or  in  some  way  had  become  familiar  with 
their  teachings,  should  agree  with  them  so  well — or  witli  the  Bible 
history — in  regard  to  the  happy  state  of  civilization  mankind  once 
enjoyed;  and  from  which  they  declined.  A  descent  as  he  describes 
comparable  to  corrupting  gold  to  silver,  and  silver  to  brass,  and  brass 
to  iron.  Which  is  certainly  true,  according  to  the  Bible,  on  the  same 
subject;  with  the  exception  of  those  we  have  mentioned  as  preserv- 
ing their  civilization. 

And  the  hope  he  indulged,  in  a  vague  way,  that  another  golden 
age  WHS  comiiig,  is  comparable,  only  in  a  less  degree,  to  the  teach- 
ings of  the  prophets  on  that  subject,  ^^'hich  is  now  a  common  belief 
and  hope  among  Christians  through  the  progi'ess  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ;  which,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  has  been  accom])lishing 
that  fact  all  the  while.  The  prophets  saw  through  it,  by  ins))iration 
of  Ood,  to  this  present  time,  and  far  beyond  us. 

It  is  really  strange  that  Virgil's  line  of  thought,  on  this  subject,  is 
so  Hebraistic,  unless  he  had  read  their  Scriptures,  or  had  !)een 
brought  in  contact  with  the  Jews. 

God  helped  him  !  Doubtless  he  filled  lais  mission.  And  well  at 
that  in  the  sight  of  (rod.  as  well  as  i.n  the  judgment  of  luen. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


^^'Hl•:THEll  we  ai*e  to  have  a  millenium  or  not,  it  is  a  common  belief 
that  through  the  spread  of  the  gospel  over  the  earth  the  world  is  to 
experience  a  better  age;  a  time  when  wars  sliall  cease.  When  imple- 
ments of  war  shall  be  put  to  useful  arts  of  life,  instead  of  destroy- 
ing life.  \\'hen  the  military  art  and  science  of  war  shall  live  only  in 
history.  When  peace  and  her  happy  fruition  sliall  he  enjoyed  l)y  all 
the  brotherhood  of  the  huiuan  family. 

The  increase  of  knowledge  will  bring  more  and  more  confirmatory 
evidences  of  the  truth  of  the  Bible  to  all  men  ;  which  will  hasten  that 
happy  period,  as  well  as  do  all  direct  means.  For  if  there  is  any- 
thing in  this  world  founded  upon  knowledge,  as  well  as  upon  faith,  it 
is  that  system  of  religion  taught  in  the  Bible.  (.John  17:'i,  1  Cor.  1  : 
19-25.  2  Cor.  1:7,  U,  18  and  5:1.  Phil.  ;?:7-15,  1  John  1  :1-5J,  Heb.l  :1- 
8,  2:1-4,  11:1-8,  Col.  2:8,  20,  22,  25).  Take  the.se  together  and  the 
proposition  is  well  sustained.  It  is  the  wisest,  the  most  knowing, 
thing  on  earth.  (),  that  science  and  philosophy  would  tarry,  as  at 
Jerusalem,  until  they,  too,  were  indued  with  power  from  on  high! 
Then  would  they  be  wise  unto  the  truth,  and  knowing  unto  salvation. 

And  in  addition  to  the  written  evidence,  every  converted  soul  has 
the  wit tiess  in  himself;  he  knows  by  his  own  personal  experience. 
The  Bible,  when  thus  understood,  makes  not  fools;  but  wise  unto 
sal  vat  ion.  (2  Tim.  9:17.  John  5:89. 

Both  Confucius  and  Virgil  are  witnesses  of  llir  dccliiu'  ttf    which    1 


188.  •  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

have  been  writing.  It  began  with  the  introdaction  of  idoUitry.  Sab- 
alsm  was  the  first  form  of  idohitry.  It  is  alluded  to,  no  doubt,  in  Job 
81:20-28,  (len.  81:19,  Jer.  7:17-20,  2  Kings  17:16-18.  According  to 
.losephus,  Niuirod  rebelled  against  Providence  in  order  to  attach  men 
to  himself,  so  that  he  might  tyrannize  over  them,  which  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  this  first  species  of  idolatry.  Like  the  devil  at  first,  and 
Jereboam  afterward — in  disguise — to  deceive. 

Some  writers  call  it  religion.  If  I  should  do  so,-  I  should  fear  that 
I  offended  (lod  ;  for  He  regards  idolatry  as  the  worst  of  all  sins,  being 
directly  against  His  majesty  and  His  claims  upon  all  men  for  their 
homage  and  service.  And  therefore  no  sin  is  more  heinoiis  in  His 
sight,  except  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost — which  is  the  essen- 
tial divine  nature  or  Deity.  CMark  8  :2y.)  Which,  according  to  the 
fixed  laws  of  His  Kingdom,  can  never  be  forgiven;  neither  in  this 
world,  neither  in  the  world  to  come.     (Matt.  12:82). 

In  the  New  Testament,  the  foundation  of  the  world  sometimes 
means  tlie  beginning  of  the  Mosaic  dispensation,  and  the  end  of  the 
world  sometimes  means  the  close  of  that  dispensation  ;  while  the  world 
to  come  sometimes  means  the  age  of  the  Messiah.  As  in  Hebrews 
nintli  chapter  and  25  and  26  verses,  "Nor  yet  that  he  should  offer 
himself  often,  as  the  high  priest  "entereth  into  the  holy  place  every 
year  with  ))lood  of  others ;  for  then  must  he  often-have  suffered  since 
the  foundation  of  the  world ;  but  now  once  in  the  end  of  the  world 
hath  he  appeared  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself."  We 
know  that  event  occurred  in  the  end  of,  not  this  material  world,  the 
Jewish  dispensation.  And  as  in  1  Cor.  10:11,  "Upon  whom  the  ends 
of  the  world  are  come.''  And  who  were  they,  but  the  generation  in 
whicii  the  ajwstles  lived?  And  the  literal  world  yet  stands.  And  in 
Ileb.  2:5,  "For  unto  the  angels  hath  He  not  put  in  subjection  the 
world  to  come,  whereof  we  speak,"  alluding  to  Acts  7:58  and  to 
Gal.  8:19;  or  to  the  fact  taught  there.  And  the  apostle  doubtless 
means  ))y  the  world  to  come  the  dispensation  of  Messias  in  compari- 
son with  the  Mosaic  dispensation. 

So  in  jMattliew  12:82,  I  think  our  Savior  means  neither  now,  in 
this  dispensation,  neither  in  the  age  of  the  Messiah,  as  they  under- 
stood it.  Or  as  we  sometimes  say,  the  dispensation  of  the  Holj^ 
Ghost,  beginning  at  Jerusalem  at  the  first  CHiristian  pentecost. 

The  Jews  tiiought  when  the  Messiah  should  appear  and  dwell 
among  them  the  changes  would  be  so  radical  it  would  be  like  a  new 
world  to  them,  and  called  it  the  world  to  come.  And  as  Isaiah 
61 : 1-8  speaks  of  the  great  mercies  of  Him  when  He  sliould  come, 
Christ  informs  them  that  not  e^ven  then  shall  a  single  case  of  blas- 
phemy against  the  Holy  Ghost  be  pardoned.  His  form  of  speech 
made  it  more  emphatic  to  his  apostles,  disciples,  and  to  all  the 
other  Jews. 

There  is  no  text  of  Scripture  that  teaches  in  any  way  that  any  sin 
can  be  forgiven  after  death.  "The  son  of  man 'hath  power" — author- 
ity— "on  earth  to  forgive  sins,"  (Luke  5:24:),  and  nowhere  else. 
They  cannot  be  forgiven  after  the  soul  leaves  this  state  of  existence. 
There  is  no  change  of  venue  allowed  in  His  jurisdiction.  The  judg- 
ment at  the  la^it  dav  is  not  to  find  whether  guilty  or  not  guilty,  but 


THE  STOPxY  OF  CREATTOX.  ISi). 

to  vindicate  (Jod's  juslice  to  all  niaiikiiid,  to  reward  His  people,  and 
to  determine  the  destiny  of  all  the  rest. 

Luke  12  :r)9  shows  the  impossibility  of  any  bein.u;  pardoned  out  of 
that  state  of  torment  whi(di  is  now  future  to  us;  as  is  also  shown  in 
the  sixteenth  chapter  and  twenty-sixth  verse  of  the  same  book;  and 
others  teach  the  same.  Now  is  the  judgment  of  this  world,  (John 
12:5J1).  It  is  now  on  trial,  as  in  a  process  of  law.  The  guilty  and 
repentant  can  be  and  are  forgiven  ;  while  the  stubborn  and  unrelent- 
ing are  held  under  sentence,  to  be  duly  executed.  The  doctrine  of 
future  probation,  as  that  of  purgatoiy,  has  no  foundation  in  the 
Scriptures. 

Now  Ximrod — says  .Josephus — taught  them  to  ascribe  their  pros- 
{:)erity  to  themselves  instead  of  (rod's  providence.  An  error  that  some, 
who  would  be  wise,  fall  into  at  this  time.  In  spite  of  it,  however,  the 
goodness  of  the  Lord  suffers  them  to  prosper.  Yet  their  vain  hearts 
abuse  thai  goodness,  and  grow  harder  still. 

From  trusting  in  themselves  they  became  less  wise,  and  concluded 
as  the  sun,  moon  and  stars  had  influences  upon  their  seasons,  that 
they  should  attribute  their  prosperity  to  them.  Then  soon  they 
M'ent  to  worshipping  these — serving  the  host  of  heaven.  Every  act 
is  Hrst  conceived  in  an  idea.  (Matt.  15:19).  At  fii'st,  in  this  down- 
ward scale,  besides  worshipping  the  Creator,  they  worship  the  crea- 
ture too,  served  both  ;   so  they  seemed  to  think.     (Rom.  1 :28). 

(Iradually  they  left  off  more,  and  more,  the  worship  of  (lod.  And 
more,  and  more,  worshipping  the  creature;  until  they  left  otl'  the 
worship  of  (lod  quite  altogether;  many  of  them  entirely.  The  most 
degraded  tribes  misled  by  their  own  genius,  and  the  help  of  the 
devil,  went  into  every  conceivable  form  of  idolatry  they  could  invent. 
Solomon,  perhaps,  alluded  to  it  when,  by  inspiration,  he  said  (xod 
nuide  man  upright,  but  thej''  have  sought  out  many  inventions.  (Eccl. 
7:29).  The  inspired  writer  may  have  reference,  in  part,  at  least,  to 
idols,  as  none  of  the  wonderful  modern  inventions  had  obtained  them, 
and  his  language,  too,  is  in  the  past  tense. 

In  those  times  the  inventive  genius  of  mankind  was  fostered  by 
abnormal  religious  ideas  and  applied  to  the  improvement  of  idola- 
trous worship.  And  not  the  less  so  because  it  became  a  lur-rative 
business. 

But,  by  and  by.  as  Christianity  had  cut  oti'  the  profits  of  those  in- 
ventors, craftsmen  and  traders,  (Acts  19 :28-y8),  they  applied  their 
genius  to  the  useful  inventions,  as  gunpowder,  printing,  steam  power, 
telegraphy  and  its  collaterals,  and  to  numerous  artistic  inventions, 
mechanical,  chemical,  agricultural  and  domestic. 

Thus  Providence  utilized  the  love  of  worldly  gain  in  mankind  to 
bring  about  the  wonderful  strides  in  secular  iiriprovements  that  have 
obtained  in  tliese  later  centuries  of  civilization  turning  of  it  in  its 
analysis  to  the  furtherance  of  His  (lospel.  For  the  benefit  of  all 
these  things  has  linked  the  nations  together  as  never  before;  and 
prepares  them  all  the  more  for  the  work  of  the  (Church. 

The  world  is  indebtetl  to  the  religious  ideas  in  mankind  for  her 
first  and  best  improvements.  ()])position  to  the  progress  of  Christian 
ideas  stimulated  worldly  science  and  philosophy  to  put  on  their  mod- 


190.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

ern  j^-rowth.  The  Almiglity  lias,  and  will,  use  it  more,  and  more,  for 
His  own  *>'lory. 

If  the  Roman  chureli  could  co^il-d  develop  so  much  of  the  artistic 
under  semi-pagan  ideas,  what  could  she  do  if  she  had  only  Christian 
ideas!  A  pity  she  has  not.  But  the  spread  of  useful  intelligence  in 
her  laity  will  root  out  that  semi-paganism.  The  priests  know  it,  too; 
hence  their  opposition  to  that  knowledge  being  obtained  bj^  them. 

Yet  in  the  midst  of  all  this  confusion  and  darkness  there  remained 
some  traces,  in  idea  and  practice,  of  the  true  religion,  as  so  many 
pointers  to  the  coming  of  Christ ;  for  all  of  them  carried  with  them 
wherever  they  went,  in  some  way  or  other,  an  expression  of  their 
belief  in  that  first  promise  made  to  fallen  humanity:  the  seed  of  the 
woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's — Satan's — head.     (Gen.  3:15). 

Apollo  is  represented  as  destroying  python — the  serpent.  The  seed 
thought  of  that  idea,  no  doubt,  came  from  the  warden  of  Eden.  In  the 
prophecy,  and  in  the  promise  of  it,  the  conflict  between  Christ  and 
Satan  is  forecast,  and  the  subjection  of  Satan  and  the  eternal  victory 
of  Christ  over  him  is  foretold.  This  was  handed  down,  as  understood 
by  Adam  and  J^ve,  from  one  generation  to  another,  until  it  was  ac- 
complished and  made  a  complete  triumph  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
when  by  His  death  He  redeemed  man,  rose  from  the  dead,  and 
ascended  on  high.  The  belief  of  it  lived  among  all  nations  and  tribes 
of  men.  And  they  were  not  surprised  when  the  news  of  it  reached 
them  as  a  fact. 

The  artist  embodied  this  doctrine  in  a  mythological  way  in  the 
statue  of  Apollo  Belvidere,  representing  him  as  the  Son  of  God  in 
this  vague  manner  conquering  python — the  serpent.  And  man  re- 
deemed and  saved  through  (Jhrist  Jesus,  the  seed  of  the  woman,  shall 
triumph  over  Satan.  That  is  the  true  doctrine;  of  which  he  and  the 
rest  of  them  had  an  indistinct  idea,  and  labored  to  express  it.  That 
idea  was  struggling  for  expression  until  the  light,  and  the  facts,  of 
(he  (Jospel  liberated  it.  Through  His  Gospel  Christ  Jesus  is  the 
restorer. 

The  imaginary  garden  of  the  gods,  too,  got  its  seed  thought,  no 
doubt,  from  the  story  of  Eden's  garden.  Nor  did  they  have  to  wait 
for  a  Moses  to  write  it  either.  Antiquity,  long  before  Moses,  had  it 
as  delivered  to  the  first  of  men. 

And  the  Elysian  Fields,  doubtless,  in  their  first  thoughts,  were 
suggested  by  the  story  of  the  garden  of  Eden.  And  from  the  same 
source  came  also  the  original  idea  of  the  Fair  Hunting  Grounds,  no 
doubt.  And  so  <lid,  doul)tless,  the  idea  of  the  beautiful  Asphodels  of 
Paradise  receive  its  initial  thought  from  the  same  source.  I  believe 
all  these  ideas  among  the  different  people  of  earth  had  their  origin  in 
the  story  of  Eden.  As  in  Asia,  and  in  Africa,  so  in  America — every- 
where— men  have  some  kind  of  history — either  written  or  verbal — of 
the  facts  of  Creation,  of  Eden,  of  the  flood,  and  of  the  tower  of  Babel 
— of  all  these  leading  primal  facts,  as  are  recorded  in  the  book  of 
Genesis. 

So  if  the  old  Roman  adage  be  true,  "Vox  populi.  vox  dei" — "The 
voice  of  the  people  is  the  voice  of  God."  Or  if  another  quite  like  it 
be  true,  "^^'hat  everj'body  believes  must  be  so,"   then   it   is   proven. 


THE  STORY  OF  ORKATIOX.  l'.)l. 

To  tlie  point  of  the  triilli  ol"  till  tlieso  facts,  as  found  in  the  IJihle,  we 
linve  a  quite  universal  eonsensus  of  opinion  of  all  mankind. 

In  chapter  six  of  this  work  we  cjuoted  a  part  of  a  Mexican 
legend  from  Rev.  D.  W.  ('nrter,  in  Our  Review  of  Missions,  October 
niiiuber,  1899,  page  1st,  in  which  a  part  of  the  account  of  tlie  Hood 
and  a  part  of  the  story  of  Babel's  tower  are  blended  together;  show- 
ing that  so  much  of  those  truths  had  thus  lived  until  the  present 
time,  while  the  rest  of  them  were  lost. 

This  primal  faith  and  hope,  though  so  unfortunately  situated  as  it 
was  in  heathen  hearts  and  minds,  gave  birth  to  their  poetry,  oratory 
and  philosophy,  and  was  woven  into  their  arts,  \\'hatever  of  truth, 
whatever  of  good,  among  them  are  found  are  ascribable  to  that  Divine 
providence  which  in  long  suffering  did  not  allow  the  light  to  go  out 
entirely.     (Acts  1^:15  and  17:80). 

The  light  on  this  line  culminated  in  erecting  an  altar  in  Greece  to 
the  unknown  (xod ;  supposed  to  have  been  reared  by  Socrates.  A 
memorable  shaft  in  the  midst  of  her  many  idols,  as  a  concrete  ex- 
pression of  his  faith  in  the  true  (xod.  Who,  like  John  the  Baptist, 
was  martyred  for  the  truth  he  held.  While  his  crystallized  faith  fur- 
nished a  text  for  the  little  Hebrew  who  afterward  brought  them  the 
(xospel  of  Ohrist;  which  is  the  true  light  that  lighteth  every  man 
that  Cometh  into  the  world.  (.John  1  :9).  For  let  it  not  be  denied 
that  God  is  the  only  light  that  this  world  has  ever  had.  (John 
8:12).  The  Lord  God  is  a  sun.  (Ps.  84:11).  He  is  intellect- 
ually as  well  as  morally  and  spiritually.  (Is.  -19:6).  Before  Ohrist 
appeared  in  flesh,  in  some  way  or  other,  in  some  degree  or  other,  the 
light  shone  in  the  heathen  darkness,  and  the  darkness  as  afterward, 
(John  4:5),  and  as  now,  comprehended  it  not.  Yet  itshined,  an<l  still 
shines,  whether  man  sees  it  or  not. 

Sorae-sisk  for  a  miracle  to  enable  them  to  believe  in  the  light  which 
has  already  been  given.  But  they  know  not  what  they  ask;  for  if 
they  will  not  believe  now,  neither  would  they  believe  if  the  miracle 
should  be  performed  before  tlieir  eyes.  They  deceive  themselves. 
(Luke  16  :IU).  IMore  evidence  would  do  them  no  good.  If  it  ever  be- 
comes necessary  He  will  g'ive  it  ;  for  what  man  cannot  do  for  him- 
self the  Lord  will  do  for  him. 

Before  the  apostle  that  day  was  the  learning  of  Athens  and  of  (Jreece. 
"\\'iiom  therefore  ye  ignorantly  worship,  him  declare  I  unto  you," 
quoting  their  poetry,  which  was  inspired,  or  born  in  them,  through 
the  faith  in  the  God  unknown  to  them.  So  then  aftei%  an  ignorant 
manner  they  worshipped  God.  Neither  did  they  deny  it;  but  a  num- 
ber of  them  found  Him  that  day,  as  the  speaker  had  before. 

No  doubt,  according  to  the  statement  of  Paul,  nuiny  of  them  were 
honestly  seeking  after  God;  striving  for  the  attainment  of  truth  and 
virtue— feeling  after  God.  Thus  far  they  were  prepared  to  hear  the 
gospel,  for  every  sounding  (hey  had  made  showed  that  the  bottoiu 
had  not  yet  been  reached;  and  they  had  a  latent  belief  that  it  would 
be  found.  Those  who  believed  Paul's  preaching  found  it  in  the  gos- 
pel of  Ohrist  .lesus.  Here  is  the  true  foundation  ;  laid  b>  council  of 
the  eternal  Godhead  in  .lesus  Ohrist .     According  to  St.    Luke's   hi.s- 


192.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

tory,  the  o-ospel  was  received  in  Atliens  with  less  opposition  tlian  in 
any  other  heatlien  city  mentioned  by  hini. 

The  whole  lieathen  world  is  like  the  prodigal  son.  Our  Savior  so 
represents  it.  (Luke  25  :16-82.)  Christianity  calls  her  back  ;  meets 
her  afar  off;  welcomes  her  home  again  ;  while  many,  like  the  older 
brother,  grumbles  if  she  comes.  But  she  is  returning  to  her  Father's 
house.  Lo,  swiftly  she  comes!  And  shall  come  more  swiftly,  as  the 
prophet  says,  "who  are  these  that  fly  as  a  cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to 
their  windows?"  (Is.  60:8),  which  is  upon  the  idea  that  they  had 
left  the  ark  of  safety.  And  now  in  rapture's  vision  he  sees  them 
swiftly  flying  back.  Fi-om  that  savage  state  of  life  into  which  Satan 
and  idolatry  have  led  them,  they  shall  return  as  gentle,  harmless 
doves. 

Christianity  shall  produce  that  change.  In  them  it  will  be  a 
return  to  the'original  faith  and  hope  which  their  fathers  long  ago  left, 
and  a  redemption  to  the  same  civilization,  too,  which  their  fathers 
forsook  long  ages  ago;  wdiich  will  be  perfected  in  Christianity.  For 
Christianity,  like  an  holy  ferment,  is  to  leaven  and  restore  her  to  her 
Father's  family  again.  Oh  how  happy  she  will  be  when  she  gets 
home  again  ! 

Out  of  the  woods,  out  of  the  thick  woods;  out  of  darkness;  out  of 
tlie  tierce  darkness,  to  the  old  religion;  and  to  the  old  civilization, 
fulfilled  and  perfected  in  Jesus,  the  Christ,  by  means  of  Christianity. 


CHAPTER  X. 

I  BELIEVE,  am  settled,  tlmt  the  Hebrew  was  the  Noahic,  antedilu- 
vian, Adamic  language  used  by  all  mankind  until  the  dispersion  at 
the  tower  of  Babel ;  the  speech  of  the  whole  world  at  tliat  time.  The 
ATferamaie,  Phoenician,  Canaanite  and  Arabic,  I  think,  are  dialects  of 
this,  while  the  Hebrew  is  the  general  language — the  main  stem,  of 
the  original  speech  of  the  world. 

Sevenfold,  seventy  fold,  seventy  times  seven,  are  Hebraisms,  and 
show  that  the  Hebrew  was  the  language  of  the  antediluvians.  (Oen. 
■J::15-24,)  and  of  the  postdiluvians  too,  until  the  confusion  of  the  lan- 
guage at  the  tower  of  Babel.  The  term  multiply  was  first  used  by 
the  Creator  Himself  in  (jen.'l  :28  and  IMO,  and  8:17  and  9:1,  and 
from  Him  they  got  the  idea  of  multiplication,  as  is  implied  in 
Cren.  4:24. 

If  the  Judge  of  all  had  not  have  instructed  them,  he  could  not  have 
held  them  accounta])]e.  He  instructed  Adam  and  Eve,  hence  He 
punislied  them  for  tlieir  disobedience  and  transgression.  If  Cain  had 
not  have  known,  or  had  not  have  had  the  opportunity,  and  the  ability 
to  know,  that  it  was  wrong  to  kill,  he  had  not  been  punished  for  it. 
Sp  if  the  antediluvians  had  not  have  been  instructed  in  all  those 
things  for  which  the  Almighty  charged  wickedness  upon  them,  and 
for  which  He  punished  them,  then  He  would  not  have  destroyed 
them.  The  inevitable  conclusion  is,  they  had  had  sufficient  instruc- 
tions from  the  great  Judge  of  all  on  all  these  subjects.  And  since  Ave 
liave  no  account  when  writing  was  introduced-r-as  every  one  who  has 
written  gives  evidence  tliat  it  was  before  his  time — it  must  have  been 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  198. 

taught  to  Adam  from  tho  first.  As  Christ  wrote,  (.fohn  8:(J-S,)  hut 
did  not  gn  to  srliool,  nor  learn  i'rom  man — so  they  said  "lie  never 
learned."  And  loni;  hel'ore  He  wrote  with  iiis  fin<ier  the  ten  com- 
mandments on  tables  of  stone — polished  hy  miraculous  power,  as  they 
had  been  so  ])r()dueed — gave  them  to  Moses  on  Mt.  Sinai,  (Ex.  HI  :18, 
i>2  :ir)-19  and  rU  :1 .  The  second  which  were  preservad  in  the  ark  of 
the  covenant,  were  polished  by  Moses,  (i)eut.  10:1-5.  Here  are  the 
iirst  properly  written  sentences  we  know  of.  But  it  does  not  follow 
from  this  that  this  same  autliority  did  not  teach  it  to  the  first  of  men. 
If  the  Hebrew  is  the  sacred  lariguacje  In  which  the  Lord  made  known 
His  will  to  Abraham,  to  Isaac,  to  Jacob,  to  Job,  to  Moses  and  the 
prophets,  then  it  must  have  been  the  language  the  Lord  used  when 
Enoch  walked  with  Him  JJdU  years,  and  in  which  He  conversed  with 
Xoah ;  the  first  language  spoken  on  earth,  and  the-tirst  ever  written. 

It  is  said  the  Hebrew  was  the  first  syllabic,  alphabetic  language. 
By  common  consent  such  language  existed  1500  years  before  Christ. 
The  expi-ession  that  "Moses  was  learned  in  all  the  wisdom  of  the 
Egyptians,''  (Acts  7  :22),  implies  a  written  curriculum  of  learning. 
And  (if  course  that  implies  a  previous  course  of  development  in  this 
art.  And  where  do  we  find  its  beginning?  ,In  Adam?  It  is  from  the 
Creator  Himself,  The  source  of  all  knowledge  and  wisdom.  The 
light  of  the  world  from  the  beginning.  John  1  -A.  "In  Him  was  life; 
and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men." 

It  does  not  seem  that  Xoah  could  have  been  able  to  retain  all  the 
instructions  in  regard  to  building  the  ark,  as  given  to  him  of  the 
Lord,  without  in  some  way  or  other  describing  them  on  some  kind  of 
material,  to  have  them  for  reference  in  his  construction  and  work. 

Xor  does  it  appear  that  they  could  have  kept  the  chronology  of  the 
antediluvian  world  as  well  as  they  did  without  some  method  of  record- 
ing the  facts  as  they  occurred,  and  of  preserving  tiiem  for  future 
reference. 

If  they  did  not,  then,  it  would  recpiire  a  fuller  revelation  of  all  tlie 
facts  to  be  given  directly  to  ]Moses  of  (rod  than  otherwise. 

It  is  evident,  and  admitted  by  historians,  that  the  oldest  books  of 
the  Scriptures  are  the  oldest  books  in  existence. 

Others  no  doubt  copied  from  them.  The  next  oldest  are  in  kindred 
languages  of  Sh.emitic  origin.  None  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  tribes 
knew  the  art  of  writing  earlier,  it  is  said,  than  900  years  -before  the 
birth  of  Christ.  It  is  said  the  alphabet  came  to  the  Greeks  through 
Shemitic  sources.  And  from  the  (rreeks  to  the  Romans,  as  any  one 
may  find  by  taking  the  pains  to  see. 

As  to  the  Divine  origin  of  the  Bible,  there  is  a  convincing  proof  in 
this;  In  those  apocryphal  times,  between  the  Old  and  the  New  Tes- 
taments, the  Jews  had  much  association  with  the  Greeks  and  Romans, 
and  literature  was  then  at  its  best  in  both  of  these  nations,  and  the 
books  of  the  apocrypha  were  the  best  the  uninspired  genius  of  the 
Jews  could  produce;  which  in  comparison  with  their  insjured  books, 
much  of  it  reads  like  foolishness.  Whatever  of  good  doctrine,  pre- 
cepts, piety  or  principles  found  in  them  are  taken  from  the  inspired 
books. 

So  can  we  sav  in  regard   to  the  writings   «>f   the   Apostolic   Fathers 


194.  THE  STOEY  OF  CREATION. 

wlipn  compared  witli  tlie  inspired  Avritings  of  the  New  Testament-. 
That  sliows  that  inspiration  was  then  suspended;  this,  that  it  v>'as 
tlieii  ended.  Daniel  had  foretold  that  the  vision  and  the  prophecy 
should  oease  about  t]\at  time ;  while  according  to  history  miracles 
ceased  then  also. 

The  so-(ralled  revelations  and  miracles  that  have  been  since  are 
frauds.  As  St.  Paul  calls  them,  "Lyinjtf  wonders."  (2  Thes.  2:9). 
TJiat  is  Vt'liat  they  are  by  whomsoever  claimed ;  and  in  all  such  im- 
posters  Christ's  words  are  proven  true,  for  He  said  they  would  come. 

If  the  Hebrew  had  no  alphabet  before  the  Lord  ijave  the  written 
law  to  Moses,  He  gave  it  one  then,  for  the  purposes  of  religion,  and 
tlie  others,  doubtless,  copied  after  this  model ;  each  adju>;ting  it  to  the 
linguistic  peculiarities  of  each  as  best  they  could. 

It  is  admitted  that,  those  nations  nearer  of  kin  to  the  Hebrews  used 
letters  before  others  more  remotely  related  to  them.  Phoenicians, 
Assyrians,  Syrians  and  Ohaldaeans;  the  Phoenicians  taking  preced- 
ence over  all  the, rest  on  the  seas,  spread  the  art  of  writing  more 
extensively  than  any  other  people. 

It  is  said  the  (h'eeks  learned  fi'om  them  to  construct  their  alpha- 
bet, and  that  the  Romansj  learned  the  use  of  letters  from  the  Greeks. 

The  reason  why  the  Shemites  took  precedence  over  the  rest  is  that 
outside  of  the  Hebrew  people,  the  others  of  them  kept  more  closely 
to  the  original  doctrine,  and  form  of  worship,  and  manner  of  life 
toward  God  than  tlie  other  nations  of  the  earth.  It  is  a  true  maxim, 
"the  worship  of  God  exalteth  a  nation."  This  is  true  also,  "A  peo- 
ple will  not  rise  higher  than  the  object  they  worship."  So  it  is  then 
to  the  interest  of  all  civil  rulers  to  encourage  the  worship  of  God 
among  their  people.  It  shows  good  statesmanship  in  all  who  do  so; 
that  they  study  and  seek  the  good  of  their  people.  For  truly  as  it  is 
written,  "Happy  is  tliat  people,  whose  God  is  the  Lord.  That  our 
soTis  may  be  as  plants  grown  up  in  their  youth ;  that  our  daughters 
may  be  as  corner  stones,  polished  after  the  similitude  of  a  palace; 
that  our  garners  may  be  full,  affording  all  manner  of  store;  that  our 
sheep  may  bring  forth  thousands  and  ten  thousands  in  our  streets; 
that  our  oxen  may  be  strong  to  labor;  that  there  be  n'o  breaking  in, 
nor  going  out;  that  there  be  no  complaining  in  our  streets.  Yea, 
happy  is  that  people,  that  is  in  such  a  case."  (Ps.  141:12-15).  If  all 
tlie  people.would  truly  vv'orship  God  they  would  be  in  such  a  happy 
case.  And  th.ere  is  no  other  way  to  be  so,  only  that.  All  their 
boasted  improvements  are  vain  without  Him,  His  Book  and  His  true 
worship. 

In  the  early  annals  of  the  Christian  era  we  hnd  that  the  Arabic 
had  a  large  precedence  over  all  others;  and  why?  Because  when 
they  were  permitted  by  Providence  to  subdue  a  people  they  tried  to 
destroy  all  their  books  and  to  enforce  their  own  upon  them.  And  all 
of  theirs  were  Mahometan.    . 

But  I  understand  the  Bible  to  teach  that  a  system  of  belief  planted 
by  the  sword,  and  defended  by  the  sword,  shall  perish,  and  that  by 
the  sword.  (Matt.  26  :52).  If  not  directly,  it  means  this  much  at 
least,  that  when  the  sword  is  withdrawn  from  around  it,  it  will  per- 
ish of  itself.     Moslemism,  I  think,  is  one  thing  which  shall  become 


THi:  STORY  OF  OREVTION.  19.'). 

exrincl.  liowovor  well  ostabllsluHl  i1  sooms  to  bo.  or  strongly  di'- 
fonded,  yet  it  will  hiive  to  j^ive  place  to  something-  better. 

Hut  philosophically  npeaking,  Christianity  is  a  living  force;  she  is 
bound  to  prevail;  to  spread  over  the  whole  earth.  That  spiritual 
force  which  God  has  put  in  her  under  His  Holy  Spirit  is  tlie  greatest 
power  in  tlie  world. 

I  have  often  thought  that  as  a- natural  force  electricity  is  nearest 
akin  to  it  of  anytliing  in  nature.  Electricity  seems  to  be  the  ver.y 
soul  of  inanimate  natui'e.  There  is  no  honest  psychologist  but  will 
admit  that  th(;  Spiritual  is  the  sti'ongest  force  in  jnankind.  Next  to 
it  is  the  mental  force  in  the  human  race.  When  these  two  are  acted 
upon  and  guided  by  the  S])ii^it  of  (Jrod  it  is  the  mightiest  power  on 
earth;  yet  it  is  entirely  harmless.  It  is  true,  however,  when  either 
of  these  powers  in  the  human  family  falls  a  prey  to  some  cruel  preju- 
dice it  can  do  a  great  deal  of  harm;  but  when  they  are  controlled  by 
the  Spirit  of  (rod.  Me  holds  them  in  a  just  balance  and  no  harm 
is  done. 

ft  becomes  all  those  v/ho  presume  to  criticise  Christianity  in  his- 
tory, as  a  whole,  or  in  her  divisions,  to  be  careful  to  separate  the  real 
from  tjie  fanatical.  Unless  they  have  the  fairness  to  do  this,  they 
are  liable  to  make  up  a  wrong  verdict.  But  infidels  will  not  have  any 
Christianity  because  there  is  some  spurious  Christianity.  As  well 
say  they  will  not  have  any  United  States  money,  because  there  is 
counterfeit  money  under  that  name.  As  no  counterfeit  is  money 
because  it  is' not  authorized,  so  nothing  is  religion  that  is  not  author- 
ized of  the  Almighty. 

^^'hen  the  Scriptures  teach  in  prophecy  that  Christ  ianity  shall  rule 
the  nations  as  with  a  rod  of  iron,  it  only  means  that  she  shall  be  an 
instrument  in  God's  hand  for  purging  out  the  wickedness  that  is  in 
them.  That  will  do  them  no  harm.  I  believe  the  time  is  coming 
when  all  intelligent  nations  will  admit  the  superiority  of  Christianity 
over  every  thought  of  man,  and  acknowledge  her  supreme  usefulness 
in  all  the  departments  of  life.  With  one  consent  tliey  will  worship 
the  Lord.  Would  you  be  happy?  Then  fall  into  line  and  follow 
on  to  know  the  Lord.  If,  as  the  Bible  says,  they  all  shall  knovr  Him 
from  the  least  to  the  greatest;  it  implies  a  spiritual  birth.  Don't 
spend  your  life  in  seeking  something  you  never  get,  bpcau-;i>  you  do 
not  submit  to  Christ  for  this,  tlie  new  birth. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


.losiCHHUS  says  that  all  consented  for  Adam  to  hold  the  govetnment 
over  all  men  as  lonL'  as  he  lived  ;  and  that  each  of  t  he  great  patriarchs 
held  it  in  succession  after  him,  until  death  released  them.  That 
Noah  had  it  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  Shem  succeeded  liim  in  the  gov- 
ernment. This  seems  to  have  been  a  prevailing  idea  among  tiie  an- 
cient Hebrews;  and  perhaps  not  without  truth. 

In  reading  the  Bible.  I  have  noticed  that  the  first  form  of  govern- 
ment was  patriarchal ;  doubtless  so  ordered  of  Providence.  It  was 
perfectly  natural.  The  next  He  established  was  theocratic;  with  a 
divine  appointment  of  some  man   to  administer  it.      As    ^Foses  and 


196.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

Joshua,  and  on  to  Samuel  and  Saul.  David  and  Solomon,  thouc^h 
kings    were  appointed  of  the  Lord-^ehosen  and  anointed. 

From  the  days  of  Ximrod  most  of  the  tribes  of  men  had  a  l<:ing  at 
their  head;  and  every  city  in  time  of  Abraham  had  its  king,  l^p  to 
the  time  of  Moses  there  were  no  great  national  powers.  Tlie  children 
of  Israel  overcame  Amalek,  Midian,  Moab  and  Amnion,  and  Egypt 
then  was  but  a  small  nation. 

St.  Jude  seems  to  refer  to  the  belief  in  the  patriarclial  succession 
as  rulers  of  the  old  world,  when  he  says  in  verse  11,  Enoch,  the  sev- 
enth from  Adam.  There  were  two  branches  of  this  government,  after 
Cain  and  his  family  and  posterity  were  separated  from  the  rest,  by 
order  of  the  Lord  of  all.  Each  had  a  patriarchal  line  of  rulers,  it 
seems,  until  the  flood;  when  Cain's  were,  it  appears,  all  destroyed. 
After  the  flood  tliey,  it  seems  true,  were  all  under  the  government  of 
Noah  until  Nimrod  rebelled. 

Since  then  there  has  been  no  universal  government.  Neither  Cy- 
rus, Xerxes,  Alexander  nor  Ctesar  had  universal  dominion  over  all 
men  ;  nor  will  such  a  thing  ever  be.  However,  the  Apocalypse  seems 
to  teach  that  after  the  happy  millennium  there  will  be  finally  but  two 
governments — Gog  and  Magog.  (Rev.  20:8).  Yet  Gog  may  stand 
for  an  indefinite  number  of  nations,  and  Magog  likewise,  instead  of 
only  two. 

In  Genesis  11 :18,  we  read  of  jNIelchizedek,  king  of  Salem,  and  priest 
of  the  most  high  God.  I  believe  he  was  ruling,  worshipping  and  teach- 
ing his  people  after  the  antediluvian  style. 

Who  was  he?  A  Phcenecian,  a  descendant  of  Shem,  The  Phoene- 
eians  invaded  Egypt,  according  to  Josephus,  173  years  before  the 
birth  of  Abraham  ;  subdued  the  first  settlers  of  that  country,  who 
occupied  it  first  after  tlie  flood;  ruled  Egypt  under  the  title  of  shep- 
herd kings,  for  511  years,  when  the  natives  got  the  mastery  over  them 
and  expelled  them  from  their  country,  all  who  had  not  been 
destroj^ed.  A  colony  of  them  settled  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  built 
Salem  as  the  seat  of  their  government.  By  common  consent  among 
them,  Melchizedek  became  their  king  and  priest. 

Whicli  was  following  the  order  of  antiquity.  For  doubtless  Adam 
was  de  facto  a  ruler  in  civil  affairs,  and  a  priest  in  Divine  worship, 
and  had  a  regular  successor  unto  Noah;  and,  perhaps,  in  Shem. 
Melehizedek  among  his  countrymen,  I  think,  was  in  the  same  line, 
as  far  as  they  could  exalt  him.  Abraham  recognized  him  in  both 
ofTices. 

From  the  first,  after  the  fall,  men  made  offerings  to  the  Lord. 
Some  must  needs  officiate  for  otJiers.  Cain  and  Abel  offered  sacrifices 
unto  the  Lord.  Did  they  originate  it?  Did  they  learn  it?  And  from 
whom?  The  Lord  instituted  it.  (Gen.  8:21).  Doubtless  Adam  filled 
this  office  for  his  family.  And  when  Cain  had  a  family  and  home  of 
his  own  he  filled  it  for  his  house;  and  Abel  likewise.  Each  of  them 
had,  it  appears,  his  owm  altar — familj^  altar.  And  doubtless  Seth  had 
his  family  altar — ministered  at  it ;  and  every  one  in  his  own  family  did 
likewise,  no  doubt.  It  appears  that  Caiii,  after  his  separation  from 
the  rest,  followed  the  same  system  of  worship,  and  in  civil  affairs 
also,  as  did  Adam  and  Seth  in  their  line.    And  more  than  probable  is 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATIOX.  }\)7. 

it,  llial  ill  Setli's  lino  after  .VduDi,  and  in  (Uiin'sloo.  tiioy  exalted  one 
for  liis  worth  in  talents,  or  i^fiod  c|U!iliti«;)S,  as  a  i^eneral  ruler  an<l 
priest  over  the  rest.  The  jiulixe  also  was  he.  Sueh  an  one  was  Enos, 
nnd  Enoeli,  and  Noah  in  Seth's  line  of  tleseent.  And  such  an  one 
was  .Arehujael  in  ('ain's  line,  no  douht,  so  I  think. 

Noah  offered  otferincjs  to  the  J^ord  of  beasts  and  birds  a  tier  Ihe 
Hood.  (den.  8:20).  In  those  olferin,i<-s  were  represented  all  that  were 
saved  in  the  ark.  The  proeeedin<i[s  imply  that  it  was  a  thing  com- 
monly understood  in  those  days.  No  doubt  but  Noah  was  the  ruler, 
judye  and  priest  over  them  all  until  Nimrod  rebelled.  And  doubtless 
Shem  succeeded  him  over  "all  the  children  of  Eber,"  (»r  .Jews.  (den. 
10:21),  MS  long  as  he   lived. 

I  think  ^felchizedek  was  in  Siiem's  line,  in  the  Xoaciiic  and 
Adamic  order,  as  ruler,  judge  and  priest;  which  is  the  order  of  the 
Son  of  (rod,  us  King,  Judge  and  Priest. 

St.  Paul  goes  back  to  Abraham  and  to  Melchizedek  to  show  the 
precedence  of  C'hrist's  priesthood  over  tlie  Aaronic  priesthood.  When 
he  got  back  to  Abraham  he  was  on  much  broader  ground  than  the 
Aaronic,  because  that  embraced  only  the  children  of  Jacob,  while 
Abraham's  embraced  the  children  of  P^sau,  Ishmael  and  all  of  Abra- 
ham's seed.  But  wlien  he  got  back  to  Melchizedek  he  was  on  still 
broader  ground  for  that  was  the  Noachic  and  the  Adamic  priesthood, 
wliich  embraced  the  whole  race  of  man  from  its  first  cradle — from  its 
first  need  of  priestly  offices. 

(Jhrist  is  called  the  second  Adam,  the  second  Noah,  and  may  we 
not  .''.ay  tlie  second  Melchizedek?  St.  Paul  and  David  both,  l)y  the 
Holy  Spirit,  declare  he  is  a  priest  after,  not  the  order  of  Aaron,  but 
of  Melchizedek;  which  was  of  Noah,  which  was  of  Adam,  which  was 
of  dod.  (den.  ;}:21).  And  why  did  they  stop  at  >relchizedek?  Be- 
cause he  was  in  the  line  of  the  original  priesthood  that  had  obtained 
from  Adam.  And  doubtless  Abraham  so  understood  it  when  he 
recognized  him  as  a  priest  of  the  most  high  (xod.  And  the  priesthood 
of  ( "hrist  is  after  that  order — embracing  all  mankind. 

d(uiesis  »}  :21  implies  the  introduction  of  a  new  dispensation;  a  re- 
demptive dispensation.  The  other  was  a  dispensation  of  obedience — 
followed  by  i^^wards  and  penalties.  This  is  a  dispensation  of  grace — 
through  faith,  repentance  and  regeneration — coming  througli  the 
offices  of  the  second  Adam — Christ.  Followed  by  lieavenly  rewards 
1o  the  faithful,  and  penalties  upon  the  immortal  spirit  of  the  unfaith- 
ful. The  office  of  the  Aaronic  was  to  preserve  truth  in  the  earth  until 
men  could  get  back  to  the  original — not  the  Edenic — but  that  which 
Adam  and  his  race  were  placed  under  after  he  fell  from  the  first — the 
Edenic.  And  all  sinners  since  have' stood  where  Adam  stood  after  lie 
fell,  and  if  saved  at  all,  it  is,  as  was  Adam — by  grace. 

When  St.  Paul  says  Afelchizedek  wa.s  what  he  pi-onounces  him  ti> 
be  in  Hebrews  7  M,  he  must  mean  historically.  Moses  gives  us  the 
history  of  his  meeting  with  Abraham  ;  but  David  aiul  St.  Paul  give 
us  the  theology  of  his  priesthood. 

Which  according  to  Moses,  and  David,  and  l'a>il,  was  acknowledged 
of  Abraham  and  of  the  Lord  in  heaven.  And  it  is  the  more  striking 
when  we  (consider  that  ^felchizedek  used    bread   and   wine;   and   thai 


198.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

(!hrist  al'lerwai-d  .sanctified  bread  ami  wine  to  show  llie  i-elalions  be- 
tween Himself  and  Hi.s  spiritual  people  in  all  ay-es. 

Than  the  forei>-oing-  there  is  no  other  way  to  acecnint  for  Ihe  intro- 
duction of -that  priesthood  which  was  before  the  times  ol  Moses  and 
Aaron.  We  find  that  Oain  and  Abel  sacrificed  to  the  Lord,  and  Xoah, 
and  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and  .lob.  And  Moses  proposed  in 
E.try]:>t  for  all  Israel  to  o-o  and  offer  sacrifices  to  the  Lord  before  the 
Levitical  system  was  adopted.  So  there  were  altars,  and  sacrifices, 
and  priests  before  the  foundation  of  the  Aaronic.  The  root  of  it  all  is 
found  in  (xenesis  5}:21  and  no  where  else. 

According  to  the  Revised  Version  the  Egyptians  had  priests  in  the 
lime  of  .Joseph,  ((xen.  41 :4")).  It  was  common  for  the  idolatroias 
nations  to  have  |)rie.sts,  but  none  of  them  originated  their  priesthood, 
they  all  received  it  from  their  forefathers.  In  regular. succession,  no 
doulM.  it  desceiided  from  Adam  to  Noah.  And  since  the  flood 
obtained  among  them,  as  before,  unto  the  dispersion  at  Babel.  Thence 
it  was  carried  by  every  division  of  the  race  and  prevailed  either  in 
purity  or  corruption  among  them  all. 

Doubtless  the  antediluvians  had  houses  for  public  worship.  Those 
in  Egypt  were  called  temples  before  the  one  in  Jerusalem.  The 
altars,  sacrifices,  temples  and  priests  among  all  iJie  Pagans  are  only 
corruptions  of  the  true  system|  of  worship  which  once  prevailed 
among  all  men  before  idolatry  begait — several  centuries  after  the 
Hood.  Before,  and  then,  they  all  knew  ami  worshipped  the  Lord; 
but  these  went  into  idolatry — forsaking  the  Lord — yet  carrying  His 
forms  of  worship  with  them — though  corniiiting  them  more  and 
more;   whicli  is  stereotyped  upon  them  unto  this  day. 

The  peculiarities  of  the  Israelites  began  with  Moses  at  Sinai.  Of 
circumcision  with  Abraham  in  tlie  land  of  C-anaan.  But  beyond  thiS' 
is  a  bi-oader  l)asis  for  tlie  whole  human  race  to  stand  upon  and  rejoice 
in  hope  of  deliverance  from  sin  and  its  curse.  On  which  all  the 
righfeous  stood  from  Adam  to  Abraham. 

The  Hrst  contra<'tion  was  in  separating  Ahraluim  from  all  the  rei^t 
of  humankind.  Thr  next  was  in  the  call  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt — 
God's  adoftled  son,  (Hos.  Jl:l);  separateil  t'lcrehy  from  all  other 
people.  Yet  botli  of  these  contractions  were  only  temporary,  and  so 
designed. 

After  Christ  had  fullilled  the  promises  of  (Jod  to  men  in  regard  to 
redemption,  these  bars  was  thrown  down  and  th(>  heat  lien  world,  like 
a  prodigal,  w-as  sent  for  to  come  home — lo  their  father's  liouse  again. 

As  did  those  wicked  ones  in  Jude's  day,  and  in  Enoch's,  so  do  some 
now.  They  made  hard  speeches  against  the  Most  High  ;  using  great 
swelling  words.  (Verse  16).  How  could  they  in  Jude's  time,  or  i]i  the 
age  of  Enoch,  use  such  without  an  alphabet,  or  syllabic,  or  written 
language?  So  do  some  who  pose  as  learned  today  by  using  scientific 
terms.  If  these  are  learned,  so  were  those.  In  tlie  Bible  all  atheists 
are  pronounced  fools;   and  some  others  too.     They  will  so  find. 

.iosephus  says  these  patriarchs  of  old  made  gnod  use  of  their  long 
lives;  that  is,  those  whose  ages  are  given.  Neither  the  ages  of  any  of 
Ihe  liad  ont^s,  nor  their  names  are  given.  As  it  is  written,  "the  mciuory 


THE  STORY  OF  (CREATION.  H)'.». 

o)'  Iho  wicked  w^rW  slinll  vo\ ."  Pfflinps,  loo,  tlicy  did  not  livo  near 
so  lonji'  as  tlie  good  ones. 

Ife  also  says  tlu\y  sludied  gooiiiot ry  and  astronomy;  anil  for  tliis 
last,  it  was  necessary  for  some  to  live  over  OOO  years;  for  it  lakes  (KK) 
years  to  make  a  jjreat  year  in  astronomy,  so  they  could  perfect  their 
ol:)servations  of  the  heavens.  This  srtence  was  well  established  before 
the  flood,  and  flourished  In  the  tribe  of  Shem  after,  especially  in  the 
land  of  Chaldea.  Abraham  was  well  skilled  in  astronomy  and  mathe- 
matics.  This  same  author  says  he  taught  the  last  to  the  Egyptians. 
Tliey  were  indebted  to  the  Hebrews  for  much  of  their  learning  as 
well  as  1o  improvemetits  in  their  civilization.  They  learned  from 
Isaac,  too,  and  from  Joseph.  They  liad  him  from  the  time  he  was 
seventeen  years  old  as  long  as  he  lived.  Enjoyed  his  piety,  wisdom 
and  statesmanship.  Then  they  had  Jacob  and  Iiis  family — a  light  in 
(ioshen  to  ligh.ten  all  Egypt. 

They  were  indebted  to  Hebrew  labor  for  the  remains  of  their 
ancient  glory.  There  is  no  evidence  that  they  would  have  had  these 
but  for  the  Hebrews. 

It  maybe  too,  a  fact,  that  the  Arabians  were  indebted  \o  this  great 
patriarch  for  their  early  system  of  mathematics,  for  their  great 
ancestor  Ishmael  was  a  son  of  Abraham. 

It  is  evident  that  the  tribes  of  Shem  were  the  holders  of  learning 
and  religion  until  the  Lord  made  choice  of  Abraham,  TheiT  the 
Abrahamic  branch  of  Shem — of  Eber — frou)  whom  came  all  Hie 
Pfebrews — or  Jews — as  later  called,  took  the  precedence  over  all  the 
rest  of  mankind  in  religion  and  civilization.  While  the  rest  of  the 
!>liemites  got  to  doing  so  badly  the  Lord,  to  some  extent,  let  lliem 
go,  as  He  did  the  rest  of  mankind  before,  until  He  saw  lil  to  bring  in 
the  full  hope  of  (Christianity  for  all  men. 

St.  Paul  gave  charge  to  Timothy,  and  Timothy  was  his  most 
1  rusted  son  in  the  gospel,  to  bring  him  the  parchments.  (2  Tim.  1  :L5). 
'"The  books,  but  especially  the  parchments."  No  doubt  those  ]:)arch- 
ments  contained  in  soiue  form  the  matter  of  those  happy  writings 
we  have  over  his  signature  in  the  New  Testament  today.  They  were 
the  products  of  inspiration  ;  the  most  precious  legacy  he  had  in  a 
tangil>le  foi'm.  So,  doubtless,  the  ))archments  of  the  Old  World  were 
one  of  lli(^  most  precious  things  to  Noah  that  he  had  in  the  nrk  out- 
side of  the  eight  passengers.  The  Jjord  would  preserve  them  as  well 
as  the  race.      He  did  not  want  the  race  without  its  history. 

Ilow  dark  this  world  would  !i<'  today  without  the  book  of  (ieiu'sisi 
'i'lie  devil  knows  it  too;  that  is  why  he  tries  so  hard  to  break  its 
power  from  over  luon.  In  that  he  will  never  succeed.  It  is  bound 
to  hold  its  place.  Mow  unhappy  for  ns  if  we  did  not  know  the  his- 
tory of  our  race  from  its  beginning!  We  should  thaidc  the  Lord 
that  He  preserved  it  through  the  deluge  for  us.  The  huiuan  foes  of 
Ood,  of  truth,  of  ri^-ht  see  its  importance:  the  reason  why  they  want 
to  destroy  it;  as  the  wicked  when  t  hey  intend  to  do  a  mean  trick, 
they  first  put  out  the  light  if  Hiey  can.  A  negro  told  me  himself 
Hint  the  negroes  do  that  way  so  the  dai-kness  will  hide  lh(;m  and 
their  deeds.     Christ  says  of  all  such   for  that    reason    they    hate    llu' 


inii.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

liy-ht,  (.Jolin  ;>:  19-21).  I'linl  is  the  only  rca.^nn  moii  have  ever 
()ppos(*d  the  Bible  and  it.^  I'niits. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  if  Noah  was  the  ruler,  he  had  all  the  archives 
of  the  government  elear  back  to  its  foundation,  and  certainly  would 
save  them.  And  whether  he  was  the  ruler  or  not,  we  know  that  he 
did  preserve  them,  for  we  have  them  today. 

Neither  is  it  a  reasonable  thing  to  think  that  any  one  would  be  a 
preacher  or  teacher  of  any  kind  for  100  years  without  manuscripts 
of  any  kind.  Especially  when  there  was  so  much  wisdom,  knowledge 
and  artisti;;  learning  to  help  him.  Nor  has  any  nation  of  white  peo- 
ple buen  known  to  live  as  long  as  was  the  period  of  the  antediluvians 
without  atlvancing  in  learning  and  in  the  useful  arts  of  civilization. 

The  fact  that  the  most  of  them  just  before  the  flood  were  wicked  is 
no  proof  to  the  contrary,  for  many  of  the  worst  deeds  on  record  were 
done  by  those  who  wei-e  learned  and  counted  civilized.  You  may 
think  I'm  hard,  but  T  only  Jiold  them  to  the  facts. 

Some  "want  to  deny  Providence  his  place  in  human  affairs,  and  in 
their  superstitious  heai'ts  believe  men  are  controlled  by  some  fatal 
necessit}-.  The  legitimate  results  of  which,  if  believed  by  all,  would 
be  to  destro_y  all  human  courts,  and  till  the  world  with  unaccounta- 
ble lawlessness. 

I  have  believed,  and  do  believe,  that  Christianit}-  is  the  conserving 
element  that  holds  society  together.  In  Him — Ohrist — all  things 
consist,  (('ol.  1 :17),  or  stand  together.  By  Him  they  both  exist  and 
consist.  Through  him  all  have  their  individuality  and  by  him  all 
stand  together  in  unity  so  as  to  constitute  one  whole.  He  is  the 
bond  of  union  that  keeps  all  together.  That  even  holds  heaven  and 
earth  together.  All  meet  in  Him.  Pie  was  the  first  that  taught, 
"united  we  stand,  divided  we  fall."     (Mark  8:23-20). 

In  Him  persons  of  different  temperaments,  different  nationalties 
and  different  races  of  men  can  stand  together;  can  have  harmony  in 
thought  and  action;  can  break  over  lines  of  thought,  even,  for  the 
unity  of  the  Spirit.     (Eph.  4:8). 

Of  one  blood  He  hath  made  all  men,  (Acts  17:2()).  By  one  blood 
He  hath  reileemed  the  whole  race.  It  was  the  common  blood  of  man, 
,san('titied,',and  made  efficacious  by  Divinity.  Therefore  He  is  able  to 
save  them  unto  the  ends  of  tlie  earth — to  the  utmost  bounds — and 
the  end  of  her  days.  And  to  save  all  of  them  unto  the  uttermost — 
who  apply  unto  Him — upon  (lospel  terms — to  all  eternity.  (Isaiah 
45  :22  and  Hebrews  7  :25). 

The  so-called  legend,  that  the  Jews  and  the  Gentiles  ai'e  of  different 
stocks,  I  think,  was  written  by  some  heathen,  after  that  distinction 
was  nu^de  between  them  by  the  Lord,  in  the  days  of  Moses,  which 
causetl  many  of  the  Oentiles  to  hate  the  Jews. 

Josephus  says  that  Egyptian  and  Greek  writers  both  tried  to  scan- 
dalize the  Jews  on  account  of  the  hatred  they  had  for  them.  I  think 
this  gave  rise  to  the  so-called  legendary  story,  that  they  were  differ- 
ent from  all  the  rest  of  mankind  from  the  beginning;  whereas  this 
dilTerence  began  at  the  time  of  their  exodus  out  of  Elgypt.  Its  law  is 
written  in  that  book  ;   is  repealed  in  the  New  Testament. 

It  was  a  saying  among  Gentile  princes,  that  the  Jews  were  different 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  -jol. 

from  all  nlhpr  ponple.  The  Jews  prided  themselves  in  this  distinc- 
tion ;  which  made  the  (rentiles  hate  them  all  the  more.  Haman  hated 
them  all.  (Hlsther  8:G-8);  So  did  many  other  (Jentile  princes;  and 
did  not  want  to  admit  kinship  with  them.  Which,  I  think,  is  the 
fmuidation  of  what   f  alluded  to  above  as  a  pretended  loijend. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


In  reo'ard  to  the  earliest  writing,  we  might  with  propriety  inquire 
why  would  St  Jude  quote  from  Enoch  in  his  inspired  book,  if  it  was 
not  a  written  prophecy?  There  is  no  example  of  any  writer  in  the  Xew 
Testament  quoting  an  unwritten  prophecy.  The  inference  is  that 
Jude  had  seen  Enoch's  prophecy  in  writing. 

The  old  prophets  ofteu  speak  of  books  that  are  lost  now,  as  the 
book  of  Iddo  the  prophet,  (2  Chron.  9:29),  and  several  others  12:15  .' 
andlB:22;  and  1  Chron.  29:29-80.  Two  books  are  mentioned  here 
now  lost,  of  Nathan  the  prophet  and  of  Gad  the  seer.  The  lover  of 
learning  could  but  be  glad  to  have  them,  especially  as  they  gave  an 
account  of  the  times  tliat  went  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  coun- 
tries, besides  Israel  in  the  reign  of  David. 

But  Providence  for  some  reason  unknown  to  us  suffered  them  to 
perish.  Yet  it  seems  that  it  would  be  realh'  a  pleasure  to  a  lover  of 
true  learning  if  he  had  them  now.  The  Bible  gives  history  of  the 
Isi'aelites  enough  in  that  period  to  satisfy  us  on  that  subject,  but  the 
inquiring  mind  reaches  out  everywhere  to  find  out  all  it  can  about 
the  other  people  of  the  earth  in  all  those  times  back  of  where  author- 
ized secular  history  leads  us  to. 

Doubtless  Providence  saw  that  it  would  be  best  for  us  to  have  to 
take  these  pains  we  do  take  to  learn  what  we  know  about  ancient 
times  not  recorded  in  the  Bible.  When  a  thirsty  soul  finds  a  gash- 
ing fountain  v\'hich  does  not  disappoint,  how  good  it  is!  So  is  he 
ravished  with  delight,  who  has  long  sought  for  a  truth  when  he  finds 
it.  As  the  entering  in  of  light  giveth  joy,  so  is  he  that  findeth 
knowledge. 

Then,  too,  finding  a  new  truth,  to  him  at  least  new,  long  hidden 
from  men  (Col.  1  :2G  and  Luke  10:21),  or  which  confirms  what  was 
believed  before,  gives  most  happy  sensations.  In  the  A^ast  vault  of 
nature,  in  the  long  buried  tracks  of  by  gone  nations,  and  peopl^,  e^ 
many  such  truths  of  antiquity  are  being  brought  to  light  by  the 
lovers  of  knowledge  to  the  joy  of  all  intelligent  people.  Especially 
to  those  who  believe  in  the  Bible  and  Christ,  its  all  pervading  sub- 
ject; for  they  see  in  these  a  happy  confirmation  of  what  the  Bibh^ 
teache.s  on  the  sam.e  subjects  and  on  Iheir  collaterals.  The  fulfill- 
ment of  many  a  prophecy  found  in  that  book  is  thereby  more  fully 
shown  to  be  true,  Iieing  confirmed  in  an  unexpected  way.  And  with- 
out doubt  all  can  but  see  that  it  is  the  word  of  (lod.  And  as  we 
walk  along  the  newly  opened  pathways  of  knowledge  we  are  con- 
strained frequently  to  appeal  to  the  Old  (fuide  which  led  onr  footstejis 
all  the  way  as  we  walked  by  faith  in  the  light  of  revealed  truth ;  and 
now  are  only  the  more  happy  to  see  it  demonstrated  before  our  eyes. 
Yet  it  lialli  not  entered  into  the  heart  r)f    man  to  conceive  the  things 


202.  THE  STORY  OF  OREATION. 

(tO(l  ha(h  prepared  for  Iheni  that  love  Him.  (1  Oor.  2:9).  How  iniicli 
of  siieli  (lelioiit  Ho  luis  for  Mis  liappy  cliildren  in  the  paths  of  eonse- 
eratofl  knowledge,  even  Ijefore  they  gel  where  tliey  know  more  than 
only  in  part,  mortal  oannot  tell. 

It  is  he.st  that  He  preserved  for  us  what  He  did  in  llis  hook,  and 
helped  us  to  find  the  rest  we  have,  ^\'heti^er  it  is  right  or  not,  I  have 
sometimes  wished  that  I  had  Paul's  epistle  to  Laodicea,  (Ool.  4:16); 
hut  T  shall  try  to  be  content  wit^li  whatever  the  Lord  gives  me.  I  am 
thankful  to  Him  for  all  T  have  received.     .Vmen. 

If  Enoch  wrote  the  prophecy  .Jude  quotes,  then  the  art  of  writing 
was  understood  in  the  age  of  Enoch.  It  must  have  been  written  and 
extant  at  the  time  .lude  wrote,  or  he  would  not  have  (juoted  from  it. 
He  speaks  of  it  as  a  thing  commonly  understood,  tliat  it  was  Enoch's 
prophecy.  He  says  Enoch  pr-ophesied  and  tells  us  what  he  predicted, 
(.lude  14,  15  verses). 

Xow  St.  Peter  says  Xoali  was  a  preacher  of  righteousness,  but  he 
quotes  from  (renesis,  while  Jude  (juotes  Enoch  directly.  (2  Peter  2  :5). 

There  are  three  ways  through  which  he  could  have  known  what  he 
here  wrote :  by  unwritten  tradition,  authentic  written  history  and 
direct  revelation  from  God.  All  Ohristians  receive  Jude  as  an 
inspired  writer — and  one  of  the  twelve  apostles,  to  whoiu  inspiration 
was  promised — his  epistle  gives  them  sufficient  grounds  fhr  it.  It  has 
furnished  heavenly  comfort  to  (rod's  people  in  all  ages  mince  it  was 
written,  and  carries  within  it  pleneary  evidence  of  its  inspiration. 
There  are  some  who  wish  it  was  not  there ;  but  that  is 'their  desire 
about  everything  they  don't  like. 

Every  word  of  (lod  is  pure  and  precious,  and  should  l)e  kej^t  by  us 
all.  Somi",  however,  have  proposed  to  rule  out  Jude  for  quoting 
from  Enoch,  claiming  that  it  was  only  a  tradition.  P>ut,  perhaps, 
the}'  had  better  wait  awhile,  and  they  will  hnd  out  he  was  right.  The 
words  of  (Tod  are  true.  Tliey  luay  yet  find  that  Jude  knew  what  he 
was  writing  about,  that  it  was  more  than  tradition. 

What  Jude  quotes,  I  think,  is  altosrether  different  from  the  frag-- 
ment  of  Enoch  ;  wliich,  I  believe,  to  be  apocryphal.  (Antiquities  of 
Joseph  us  Ps.  86  and  87). 

Jude's  epistle  and  Second  Peter  are  very  mucli  alike  both  in  doc- 
trine and  style,  and  each  of  them  gives  us  much  valuable  information. 

.losephus  gives  account  of  ancient  histories  written  by  Egyptian 
authors  before  the  time  of  Moses,  giving  chronicles  of  their  kings 
b;ick  to  Sesostris,  from  whom  Egypt  is  said  to  be  named.  These 
chronicles  are  given  to  the  year  and  montl\,  as  if  written  in  order  as 
they  rose  to  power  and  expired. 

He  speaks  also  of  Oha Idea n  histori(^s  which  reiu-h  l)ack  to  the  Hood. 
\Vhich  give  an  account  of  the  flood,  of  the  ark.  of  it  resting  on  a 
moontain  in  Armenia — .\rarat — of  Noah  and  those  who  were  saved 
with  him  in  the  ark.  iJearing  witness  with  the  Bible  on  all  these 
facts. 

1I(^  tells  US  tluit  the  jwsteritj-  of  Seth  established  the  science  of 
ast  ronoDiy,  and  that  long  before  the  flood.  That  Adam  predicted 
that  the  world  would  be  destroyed  once  by  a  deluge  of  v.'ater  and  once 
bv  ih-o.     'I'hev,  therefore,  wrote  down,  he  savs,  their  observations   in 


TTIK  STORY  OF  CREATION.  2(t;!. 

tlio  (lays  of  Adam  on  a  lirick  iiioiiiiincnl ,  then  for  foar  if  it  sliouM  l»f 
undost  roved  hy  tin-  Mood,  yd  nnL;h(  We  destroyed  by  fire,  tliey  wrote 
llieni  also  on  a  stone  nioiumient   for  the  benefit  of  fntiire  yfoneral  ions. 

If  so.  they  u^t'd  botli  stone  and  l)ri('k  in  the  days  of  Adam,  and 
writ ini!,- was  known  and  pracliced  then  too;  or,  if  reared  soon  after 
the  Mood,  as  some  have  supposed,  it  sliows  that  thoy  then  used  stone 
and  brick,  as  the  Bible  teaches  they  did,  and  writing  also;  anrl  car- 
ries a  probability  that  these  arts  obtainerl  before  the  flood. 

I  liave  no  dotibt  but  that  Adam  had  the  spirit  and  tlu'  uifl  of 
]iro[)liecy. 

He  further  says  that  Cain  invented  weights  and  iTieasures;  that  he 
was  the  first  to  set  measures  and  bounds  to  lands;  that  he  gathered 
his  family  into  a  city  and  walled  it  in.  It  would  requir(>  considerable 
science  to  do  all  these  things. 

That  his  posterity  invented  harps  and  psalteries  and  tents,  and 
established  the  science  of  music;  and  were  the  first  tou.se  brass. 
That  implies  art  and  scieiice  both.  But  he  says  they  were  lovers  and 
seekers  of  pleasure,  ^^'hile  the  posterity  of  Seth  were  pious  until 
shortly  before  the  flood,  when  they  also  became  wicked  as  well  as 
Oain's  who  were  very  wicked,  even  befcJre  Adam  died. 

But  he  nowhere  says  when  writing  was  invented,  or  first  used  ;  I)ut 
the  science  of  astronomy  and  of  music  would  need  it.  So  would  geo- 
metry, which  they  must  have  used  also,  with  their  arts  and  commerce. 

As  there  is  no  aceount  of  it-*  invention,  discovery  or  beginning,  wri- 
ting must  have  been  taught  to  Adam  by  the  Creator,  from  the  first. 
The  probability  is,  that  the  first  of  men  knew  how  to  write,  and  that 
they  did  write. 

If  the  flood  was  not  universal,  1  he  knowledge  of  it  was  made  so; 
for  wherever  mankin(i  emigrated  alter  the  deluge,  they  carriefl  its  fact 
in  thf^ir  minds,  and  its  impression  on  their  hearts.  And  that  fact 
and  that  impression  have  survived  among  the  heathen  nations  unto 
this  day,  waiting  for  its  fuller  conflrmation  by  the  Bible,  which  the 
churches  of  ('hrist  are  !wa.carrying  to  them  today;  while  the  little  of 
original  truth  they  have  in  their  crude  way  preserved,  helps  to  an 
earlier  belief  in  the  Bible  when  i(  comes  to  them;  for  the  Chinese, 
Hindoos,  Persians.  Peruvians  and  Afexican  Indians  all  have  tradi- 
tions of  t  he  Hood. 

How  is  it  to  be  accounted  for,  but  that  nil  tlu\se  |ieoples — and  no 
others,  ai'c  without  traditions  of  the  kind — as  all  the  rest — sprang 
from  those  eight  persons  saved  in  the  ark?  And  that  all  the  earth 
has  since  been  jieopled  by  th.eir  descendants,  and  the  facts,  and  the 
impressions  of  the  flood  were  handed  down  from  sire  to  son  through- 
out all  generations  from  then  till  now? 

It  shows,  also,  thai  the  American  Indians  are  of  Asial  ic  origin,  and 
(lecdined  in  their  civilization,  as  did  those  they  left  in  Asia,  until  the 
redeeming  influences  of  ( 'hristianity  met  them.  I  believe  the  earliest 
sett  h-rs  of  .America  were  Indians  from  Asia,  and  that  they  declined 
from  a  higher  state  of  civilizat  i'ui  to  the  degraded  state  in  which  the 
white  men  found  them  when  they  came  here.  The  traces  of  that  de- 
(dine  are  seen  ;    for  behind  them  are  evidences  of  a  better  state  of  civ- 


204.  THE  STOEY  OF  OREATIjON. 

ilization  than  they  were  in  at  the  eominj?  of  the  white  man.  The  first 
settlers  must  liave  been  tillers  of  the  soil. 

The  very  monncls  whieh  remain  of  that  state  are^concrete,  Asiatic 
ideas  of  bnryini?  the  dead — of  honoring  their  distins^uished  dead.  It 
is  the  same  thought,  only  on  a  smaller  scale,  that  underlies  the  pyra- 
mids of  Egypt.  .Mound  building  over  the  dead,  like  all  other  Asiatic 
customs,  once  adopted,  lasted  long — was  brought  by  the  Indians  to 
America — and  obtained  among  them  for  ages,  till  they  became  too 
l^oor  and  barbarous  to  keep  it  up.  It  reached  its  climax  in  the  pj'ra- 
mids  of  Egypt. 

In  America,  from  the  first  to  the  last,  it  was  only  the  Indian  him- 
self, and  on  a  decline  from  what  he  was  when  he  came.  I  see  no 
other  reasonable  conclusion  on  that  subject.  I  do  not  believe  there 
were  any  other  people  here  before  he  came. 

The  Bible  is_£.sure  guide  that  leads  us  not  in  uncei'tain  paths — to 
the  beginning  of  time  and  to  (.fod,  the  Author  of  time.  If  men  would 
only  learn  it,  they  would  be  saved  from  having  to  make  so  many 
humiliating  acknowledgements  of  their  ignorance  of  antiquity. 

The  truth  is,  that  man  had  a  high  original ;  and  for  about  2(M) 
years  enjoyed  a  good  state  of  •civilization.  But  afterward  the  most  of 
them  declined  from  it,  until  they  fell  into  a  savag-e  state;  and  Chris- 
tianity for  the  last  nineteen  centuries,  has  been  lifting  them  out  of 
that  state  of  degradation  into  which  sin,  fatalism  and  idolatry  had 
plunged  them.  And  now  because  they  are  found  to  be  on  a  rising 
scale,  some  writers  want  to  deny  that  they  had  that  high  origin,  en- 
joyed that  civilization,  declined  from  it,  and  through  Christian 
influences  are  now  returnina;  back  to  it,  and  to  true  religion.  Which 
w^ould,  if  their  ideas  prevailed,  destroy  from  the  world  a  very  precious 
legacy — rthe  common  property  of  all. 

Science  and  philosophy  meet  them,  where  Christianity  has  brought 
them,  returning  from  their  miserable  folly  and  degredation.  These 
v,'riters  are  too  unfair  to  give  Christianity  credit  for  what  she  has 
done,  and  to  admit  the  original  truth  on  the  subject,  unless  they  fail 
to  understand  the  true  facts. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


In  primitive  times,  in  the  earliest  settlements  of  the  earth,  espe- 
pecially  after  the  deluge,  and  more  especially  after  idolatry  had 
blinded  their  intellects,  the  genius  of  man,  still  gaided  by  a  merciful 
providence,  caused  him  to  use  the  most  convenient  means. providing 
for  his  wants. 

Where  there  was  timber  sufficient  he  constructed  houses  out  of  it; 
but  where  it  was  lacking,  slime,  bitumen  abounded;  housed  this 
with  stones  for  building  purposes.  Where  these  did  not  prevail  he 
used  clay,  sand  and  water,  making  and  hardening  brick,  first  in  sun- 
shine, or  sundried — then  burnt — hardened  by  fire  in  kilns — for  con- 
structing houses,  or  walls. 

Some  used  stone  and  mortar  or  clay,  cobbled  together;  and  some- 
times sticks — filled  between  by  sticky  mud — covering  their  houses  by 
such  means  as  their  sjenius  could  invent  and  construct.     Out  in  des- 


THE  STORY  OF  ORKATIOX.                            •_'•»:).  .; 

> 

erls,  whoiv  all  tlicsc  clemciils  were  wanliiiLr,  tliey  (itlcd  iiutural  caves  «; 

of  the  earth  for  (hveHiiiys,  as  did  Lot  in  liis  pxt,remity.    ((roii.  l!):.">ll;.  t 
Settlers  out    in  our  western  count rles  do  the  same   thintj   today;   tlie 
same  as  men  did  of  old;   so  do  men  now  when    their  conditions  are 
alike.     Xow  where  there  are  not  enoujijh  natural  cojigj-s  they  const  ruet  ^^!yt 

a  du.<i;out ,  usinsf  a  hill  slope  or  mountain  side  for  the  the  purpose,  , 
which  makes  the  lal>or  of  it  easy  and  cheap,  compared  to  y ^  v^ 
househuilding. 

Early  history  shows  that  the  cave  dwellers  were  inhabitants  of  des- 
erts.    This  was  the  best  they  could  do,  unless  they   used   tents;    but  ; 
deserts  are  not  stock  raisin^j  countries,  and  they  and   their   business  j 
needed  settled  abodes ;   or  if    only  temporary   the  cave  would    be   less  ^ 
costly.  * 

The  Bible,  T  think,  teaches  plaiidy  enoui^h,  that  some  of  the  ear- 
liest buildings  of   men  were  constructed  of  stone  cemented   toj^ether  ■ 
with  slime.     For  instance,  if  (lain  builded  a  city  in  tlie  land  of    Xod.  \ 
(Gen.  4:17,)  the  probabilities  are  that  the  houses  in  that  city  were  of 
stone  or  brick,  rather  than  of  wood.     And  by  its  walls,  the  more  es-  < 
pecially,  as  Josephus  says,  he  walled  it  in.     And  the  expression  used 
in  (ren.  G  r-t,  came  in,  or  went  in,  in   Scripture  always  means  a   house 
or  tent,  or  other  kind  of  abode.                               "  \ 

The  book  of  (lenesis  is  written  as  if    from  the    land  of    .Midiaii — or  ) 

Horel);  hence  it  speaks  of  the  countries  of  the  Euphrates  and  Tigris  ] 
us  the  East.     They  journeyed  from  the  east,  (Gen.  ]1  :l-4,)  settled  in 

the  plain  of  Shinar.     The  first  settlements  then  after  the  Hood   must  "-, 

have  been  on    the  Tigris.     East  of   the   plain   of  Shinar — which  was  ) 

afterward  called  Babylonia — in  which  the  famous  city  of  Babylon  was  ' 

situated.    And  tliey  said  to  one  another,  "Go  to,  let  us  make  brick."  1 

This  shows  that  they  were   familiar   with   brick   l)efore.      '•And   burn  ■ 

them  thoroughly."     This  iiuplies  that    they  had  burnt    brick   before  , 

this  time.     "And  they  had  brick  for  stone."     This  shows  that   stone  < 

was  used  in  walls  l)efore  brick;  and  that  they   had  used  stone   walls  j 

before  this.     -'And  slime   had   they  for  mortar."     This  shows  thai  ' 

before  this    they  had  used  mortar   in  stone  walls ;   perhaps   in   brick  ■; 

walls  too;  and  also  in  walls  of  wood  for  houses  and  chimneys.  Stom^  ] 
was  before  brick — used  first — aiul  slime  before  mortar — and    used    no 

doubt,  before  mortar.  ' 

Perhaps  the  use  of  slime  was  known  before  Xoah  used  it  it  in  pitch-  \ 

ing  the  ark,  (Gen.  (kIJ-,)  but  that  was  the  first  time,   perhaps  it  was  "j 
used  to  resist  water.     Tlie  instructions  given   to  Xoah    in   regard    to 
pitching   the  ark  with  slime   presume  that   its  use  was   understood 

before;  as  the  other  instructions  imply  that  he  understood  framing,  ^ 

building  and  the  use  of  mechanical  tools,  metalic  tools,  at  that.  1 

In  the  account  of  the  Assyrian  explorations,  it  is  said  that  Asshur-  : 

banipal,  the  most  eiuinenf  of  the  rulers  of  Assyria,  was  a  great   pat-  | 

■  ron  of  letters.   He  may  have  been  the  Asshur  of  the  Bible,    ((k'n,  Bt:  ' 

11).     He  built   Xineveh,    Rehoboth,  Caleb    and    Resim.     This   Resiiu  ^ 

was  a  great  city  at  the  lime   this  was  written,   for  the  l>ook  says  so.  : 

(Gen.  10:12).     This  Asshur  was  the  founder  of  the  Assyrian  emi)ire;  t 

was  the  head  of  that  dynasty.      Perhaps  the  most    honored  of  any  in  , 

it.:   and  deserved,  no  doubt,  to  be.  ' 


206.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

The  records  on  clay  tablets  found  in  their  ruins,  it  is  said,  I'oach 
back  2,000  years  before  Christ.  That  would  reach  back  into  the  time 
of  Asshur,  the  first  ruler  of  that  empire.  His  father,  Shem — (Gen. 
1(1:22)  lived  500  years  after  the  flood.  2,000  years  B.  0.  Avould  take 
in  844  years  of  Shem's  life  and  six  years  of  Noah's  life.  According- 
to  our  authorized  chronoloj^y  in  the  Bible,  which  shows,  if  the  de- 
ciphering' is  correct,  that  in  Shem's  lifetime,  and  in  Noah's,  men 
recorded  events  in  writing.  If  so,  it  is  a  strong  probability  that  they 
did  before  the  flood,  and  it  jnust  reach  back  to  Adam. 

In  (ren.  -t:  15  the  word  sevenfold  is  here  used  and  in  the  24  v.  Lam- 
ech  uses  it  and  adds  seventy  and  sevenfold,  wliich  shows  that  in 
Lamedr's  time  and  in  Cain's,  if  he  was  yet  alive,  which  is  probable 
that  men  then  had  at  least  some  knowledge  of  mathematics,  for  it 
has  reference  to  multiplying  one  number  by  another. 

The  Lord  used  it  first  in  several  speeches  he  made  to  them  before 
this,  as  he  is  the  author  of  language  and  of  all  other  knowledge — he 
helped  them  to  grasp  the  knowledge  of  all  things  needful  for  them  to 
know  and  to  do.  Whatever  was  needful  for  them  to  know  he  led 
them  into  the  knowledge  of  it  and  taught  them  how  to  do  every- 
thing necessary  for  them  to  do ;  supplied  all  their  need,  as  he  has 
ever  done  for  us  all. 

If  this  ruler  was  a  great  patron  of  letters  it  is  quite  probable  "that 
his  contemporaries  wei'e  also,  for  those  others  of  Shem's  line  had  a.s 
good  opportunities  as  he  had,  if  others  did  not. 

While  the  Lord  in  His  pi'ovidence  buried  Nineveh  for  her  sins,  He 
preserved  in  her,  nevertheless,  records  to  witness  to  the  truth  as  set 
forth  in  the  Bible.  But  certain  writers  when  they  come  to  speak  of 
these,  however,  show  either  their  weakness  or  their  contrariness,  by 
trying  to  give  to  them  exaggerated  dates,  for  which  there  is  no  reag(^n. 
Nor  do  they,  themselves,  claim  that  there  is  anything  in  the  records 
on  the  tablets  to  justify  it.  Wliy  they  do  it  then  the  Loi'd  only 
knows.     But  all  sensible  people  will  have  their  opinion  about  it. 

(reologists  may  write  what  they  call  the  rational  history  of  the 
earth;  but  no  rational  history  can  give  chronology.  Chronology  is  a 
pi'oduct  only  of  human  hands.  It  comes  from  some  one  '"who  then 
lived."  There  is  no  other  way  for  posterity  to  find  it.  And  there 
has  been  no  writing  of  any  kind,  on  any  kind  of  material,  that  con- 
tradicts our  Bible  Chronology.  Nor  does  nature  anywhere  give. forth 
a  contrary  testimony.  The  chronology  of  the  Bible  is  the  best  the 
world  has.  Whether  correctly  calculated  or  not  there  is  nothing 
found  in  man's  records  that  denys  it;  nor  is  there  anything  in  nature 
yet  found  that  contradicts  it — neither  can  any  naturalist  or  other 
scientist  so  claim.     They  well  know  there  is  not. 

As  to  writing,  no  man  can  prove  that  men  did  not  write  before  the 
exodus  of  Israel  from  Egypt,  nor  that  Noah  did  not  write.  It  is 
probable  that  he  did.  Nor  that  Adam  did  not.  If  the  Lord  did  not 
teach  it  directly  to  him  his  early  descendants  soon  invented  it,  as 
they  did  other  things  they  needed.     (Cen.  4 :  20-24). 

If  those  writers  could  get  hold  of  some  relics  of  the  first  harps,  and 
organs,  and  tools,  of  iron  and  brass,  men  then  used,  they  would,  for 
contrariness,  if  for  nothing  else,  try  to  put   their  dates  very  much 


THE  STOUY  OF  ORE  ATT  OX.  L>r,7. 

furtlior  back  than  any  reason  could  be  found  for  so  placing-  tlicin. 
The  Bible  speaks  of  some  wlio  were  contrary  to  all  men. 

If  they  knew,  It  is  said  by  some,  wlien  a  certain  kinjj  rei<;n('d 
whose  name  is  written  on  lliose  clay  tablets  they  would  know  by  thai 
the  triie  dale.  He  may  be  a  Bible  character,  for  in  the  Scripturt-s 
a  prominent  man  is  called  by  a  Hebrew  and  sometimes  by  the  same 
name,  in  (li-eek  form.  And  aji:ain,  some  are  called  by  a  Syrian,  Per- 
sian, Chaldean,  or  Assyrian  name,  as  well  as  by  his  Hebrew  name. 
So  he  may  have  been  one  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  and  in  those  times 
as  now  a  man  often  obtained  a  local  name,  and  that  may  be  the  one 
on  t  he  (aldets. 

If  the  dates  on  the  Assyrian  tablets  are  properly  understood  they 
reach  back  to  the  first  settlement;^  of  mankind  after  the  Hood;  while 
the  Babylonish,  if  correctly  deciphered,  extend  far  into  antediluvian 
time. 

It  is  said  by  some  writers  that  tlierewere  people  in  Bai)yionia  be- 
fore it  was  occupied  by  the  Shemites.  That  is  asjreeable  to  the 
Bible.  The  first  settlers  of  it  after  the  flood  wei'e  descendants  of 
Ham.  Ximrod,  o-randson  of  Ham,  established  there  the  first  mon- 
archy, which  was  the  first  variation  from  vhe  patriarchal  form  of 
government  mentioned  in  the  Bible. 

By  and  by  these  Hamites  had  to  retreat  from  that  country  before 
the  children  of  Shem.  It,  I  think,  occurred  before  the  time  of  ."Vlira- 
ham.  Except  what  were  made  servants,  they  must  have  emigrated 
to  Africa,  the  natural  home  of  the  Hamite. 

Dates  are  found,  it  is  said,  on  the  Babylonish  tablets,  reaching 
liack  to  r5,8(KI  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  which  ai'cording  to  the 
chronology  of  the  Bible  would  be  coeval  with  the  civilization  of  Cain 
and  his  posterity,  mentioned  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  (-renesis.  .1(5  to 
verse  24,  which,  if  true,  would  carry  the  art  of  writing  as  far  back  as 
that  date,  and  perhaps  to  the  creation  of  man — where,  doubtless,  it 
belongs. 

Some  writers  have  stated  that  they  think  that  civilization  dates 
back  six  or  seven,  or  even  eight  thousand  years  before  the  birth  of 
Christ,  but  that  is  not  made  out  from  any  date  found  anywhere.  That 
is  calculated  from  the  rate  they  suppose  debris  would  accumulate 
over  ruins,  and,  of  course,  there  is  no  certainty  in  that.  Sometinies 
it  might  be  suddenly  very  great  and  at  other  times  very  small,  ac- 
cording to  the  causes  that  would  produce  it.  Tn  all  the  excavations 
no  dates  are  found  that  contradict  the  chronology,  as  calculated  from 
the  text  of  the  Scriptures;  and  yet  we  may  safely  allow,  by  compar- 
ing ours  with  the  Samaritan  version  of  the  Pentateu(;h  and  the  Sep- 
tuagint  version  of  the  Old  Testament  in  chronology,  as  these  calcu- 
lated that  the  present  age  ()f  the  world  is  quite  as  near,  pcrliaps,  7t)(>u, 
as  it  is  to  ()t)U()  years.  A\'hile  they  are  supposing  as  a  basis  for  a 
calculation  that  it  would  take  nature  at  a  given  rate  of  increase  4(K.M) 
years  to  cover  certain  ruins  with  debris  to  a  depth  less  than  forty 
feet;  the  flood  may  have  covered  many  a  one  with  debris,  at  once, 
far  deeper  than  that.  No  doubt,  there  are  whole  antediluvian  cities 
buried  deeper  by  far  ihaii  any  spade  or  pick  has  yet  gone,  which 
shall  l)e  didv  fouiid  in  His  seasons,  who  brintrcth  all  His  purposes  to 


208.  THE  STORY  OF  GREAT  FOX. 

pass.     His  evifleiK-es  are  ever  cumulative.     They  are  <i-ath('ni\^  new 
forces  in  all  tlie  earth  to-day. 

Some  critics  o-ive  it  as  llieir  opinion  that  those  early  dwellers  in 
Babylonia  were  Shemites.  TJie  trutli  is  tliey  were  Cainites — antedi- 
luvians— who  first  dwelt  in  that  country.  I  understand  that  (/:i,in  and 
his  family  settled  east  of  the  river  Tijjris,  (Gen.  4  :lti),  and  his  pos- 
terity spread  over  the  plains  of  Tigris,  and  the  Euphrates,  before  the 
flood;  Avhile  the  rest  of  tliem  remained  in  what  was  afterwards  called 
the  land  of  Canaan,  and  the  adjacent  countries.  For  the  Almi<^hty 
thus  separated  the  two  posterities  of  Adam's  family  in  those  days. 
They  remained  so  until  a  few  centuries  before  the  flood,  when  con- 
trary to  His  directions,  they  s^-ot  toj'ether. 

Their  resemblance,  in  other  particulars,  to  the  Shemites,  which 
causes  critics  to  think  they  were  Shemites.  is  onlj'  one  of  many 
proofs,  that  the  antediluvian  civilization  was  preserved  in  the  Shem- 
ites; the  more  especially  in  the  Hebrew  branches  of  Shem.  I  believe 
their  speech,  complexion  and  customs  were  antediluvian  ;  and  so  was 
their  faith  and  worship — plus  Mosaic  and  Abrahamic  institutions.  So 
they  have  never  had  a  dawn  of  civilization,  but  the  day  lii^'ht  of  it  all 
the  time,  since  man  was  created.  Neither  have  they  had  any  prehis- 
toric times.  The  Bible  carries  their  history  competely  linked,  from 
Adam  to  its  latest  page.  And  now  excavations  ai'e  unearthing  it 
through  the  distant,  buried  past,  and  it  is  beiiiii"  read  in  other  hand- 
writing, besides  JNIoses  and  the  prophets. 

According  to  our  authorized  chronology,  the  Cainites  had  130 
yeai's  the  start  of  Seth's  line  of  descent;  and  agreeable  to  Josephus, 
280  years  the  start  of  Seth's  posterity.  They  also  increased  rapidly; 
were,  as  Cain,  tillers  of  the  soil ;  soon  developed  the  mechanical  arts, 
which  agriculture  naturally  leads  to.  Also  the  art  of  nnisic,  and  oth- 
ers— of  industrial  nature   were  developed  I>y  them. 

Cain  himself,  lived  to  build  a  city,  named  Enoch.  Perhaps  it  is  the 
Ei'ech  on  the  clay  tablets.  The  dates  of  the  two  agree  well  together. 
Enoch  is  the  first  city  mentioned  in  the  Bible.  The  Cainites  perhaps 
built  many  others,  for  they  had  more  than  a  thousand  years  yet  be- 
fore their  destruction  by  the  deluge. 

Those  ancient  ruins  which  some  suppose  are  six  or  seven  thousand 
years  older  than  the  C-hristian  era,  are  no  dotibt  works  of  the  Cain- 
ites; lying  in  ruins  since  the  flood,  and  buried  by  sediment  then;  a 
just  recompense  for  their  wickedness,  and  should  be  a  warning  to  all 
others.  The  Bible  does  not  speak  of  kings  and  their  conquest  before 
the  flood,  yet  Josephus  says  the  Cainites  made  many  wars  upon  the 
rest  of  maidvind  and  took  great  spoils  from  them;  wluch  agrees  very 
much  with  some  of  tiie  records  on  the  clay  tablets  on  the  ages  that 
reach  beyond  the  deluge. 

When  we  consider  the  number  of  children  that  may  be  born  to  a 
man  and  his  wife  in  their  short  lifetime  now,  and  consider  the  great 
ages  they  lived  unto  in  those  days,  it  appears  that  the  rate  of  increase 
in  population  must  have  been  much  greater  then  than  it  is  now. 
And,  too,  the  death  rate  among  them  being  much  less  than  it  is 
among  i;s,  increases  the  probability  of  a  much  more  rapid  increase^ 
among  them  than  among  us.     Then  consider  the  length  of  antedilu- 


THE  STORY  OF  nRKATTOX.  209. 

vian  lime  and  cnmparo  it  with  (lie  iiioreaso  and  development,  of  any 
other  people,  aecordintj;  to  time  and  oilier  conditions,  and  it  will  be 
seen  there  must  have  been  a  numerous  jjosterity  from  them  all  before 
the  delujje,  and  eould  have  done  all  that  would  be  indieated  by  all 
that  is  found  in  the  tracks  of  civilization,  which  dates  in  periods  of 
time  anterior  to  the  flood. 

There  were  two  lines  of  civilization  developed  in  those  times.  The 
first — Adam's  throuj^h  Abel's,  if  he  left  any,  and  Seth's,  and  Adam's 
later  sons  and  daui^hters,  (Gen.  .") :  4)  and  all  that  descended  from  all 
these.  The  second  was  Cain's  and  all  those  that  descended  from 
him,  beino-  separated  from  the  rest. 

Perhaps,  the  first  devoted  themselves  more  to  stock-ruisinfi:,  and, 
therefore,  were  less  permanently  settled  than  Gain's,  and  have  not 
left  as  permanent  remains  as  did  the  agricultural  (^ainites,  or,  how- 
ever, they  may  yet  be  found  in  Ganaan  and  adjacent  countries. 

While  in  the  remotest  remains  we  find  of  ancient  intelligence — as 
to  time — thej'  were  writing  in  the  plains  of  the  Euphrates  on  tablets 
of  burnt  clay;  the  rest  of  Adam's  descendants  were  writing  their 
liistory  on  scrolls  or  parchment  made  of  tiie  well-dressed  skins  of 
animals.  And  how  much  more  intelligent  and  reliable  are  they  than 
all  that  is  found  on  all  the  clay  tablets  of  Gain's  posterity? 

Some  writers  speak  of  their  high  appreciation  of  the  valuable  treas- 
ure of  the  clay  tablets  found  by  explorei's  after  ancient  relics,  giving 
evidence  of  a  past  civilization  hitherto  unknown  to  them,  and  they 
ought  to  be  ashamed  to  have  to  confess  to  such  lack  of  knowledge, 
for  to  Bible  students  it  had  been  known  all  the  time. 

And  the  Bible  is  far  more  intelligent  on  all  these  subjects  than  all 
else  that  men  have.  How  much  Tiiore  should  we  appreciate  that 
grand  and  sublime  account  of  antiquity  iriven  us  in  the  Scriptures. 
None  of  those  relics  bear  a  date  more  ancient  than  the  time  when  the 
land  of  Xod  was  first  settled  by  the  fugitive.  Gain.  Tf  any  so  think 
they  only  fail  to  read  or  to  interpret  correctly. 

Those  which  x'elate  to  the  flood  were  written  since  that  event. 
Trace  nature  to  her  beginnings  and  art  to  her  earliest  existence,  and 
there  is  not  a  voice  of  testimony  anywhere  that  contradicts  the  Bible; 
but  at  every  step  in  discovery,  as  far  as  their  influence  extends,  it 
goes  to  establish  or  corroborate  the  teaching  of  Holy  Writ. 

^^■hile  the  Almighty  preserved  Gain's  history,  buried  deep  under 
the  sediment  of  the  flood.  He  brought  the  history  of  the  other  branch 
of  Adam's  race  safely  across  the  waters  of  the  deluge  in  the  ark — the 
one  preserved  in  nature,  the  other  in  the  Bible.  And,  as  he  says  in 
the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every  word  shall  be  established, 
so  is  this  established  by  the  concurrent  witness  of  n.ature,  art  and 
inspiration. 

And  in  the  <?arly  ages  after  the  Hood,  prior  to  the  time  of  Moses 
and  after  while  the  Shemites  in  Assyria  and  ]3al)ylonia  improved 
their  most  convenient  method  of  preserving  their  history,  the  He- 
brew was  writing  his  upon  parchments  of  prepared  skins  from  his 
sheep-cote,  the  most  convenient  to  him — each  following  the  peculiar 
conditions  nf   his   country  and  of  his   occupation,   too,  as  those  did 


no.  THE  STOEY  OF  nREATION. 

who  livod  in  those  same  lands  before  the  flood,  following  the  sugges- 
tions of  nature  to  use  that  which  was  most  convenient  to  them. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


It  is  supposed  that  from  those  clay  tablets  kings  ruled  in  Babylo- 
nia as  far  back  as  J5,80U  years  ])efore  the  C!hristian  era.  But  that 
does  not  contradict  any  statement  in  Bible  history.  And  it  was  a 
common  belief  among  learned  Jews  that  Adam  held  the  government 
as  long  as  he  lived,  then  was  succeeded  by  Seth,  and  he  by  tiie  next 
in  regular  succession  unto  Enoch,  the  seventh  ruler  from  Adam,  and 
he  in  regular  succession  to  Noah,  who  ruled  just  before  the  flood. 

Of  course,  tliis  did  not  include  Gain's  line,  because  the  Loi-d  had 
separated  them  from  the  rest.  No  doubt  but  Oain  governed  them  as 
patriarch,  if  not  otherwise,  wiiile  he  livetl,  then  Lamech,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  tyrannical.  Here  the  Bible  leaves  them  behind  in  its 
history.  But  it  is  probable  from  the  genius  of  the  times  that  they 
had  a  successive  ruler  over  them  until  they  were  all  lost  in  the  flood. 
Where  the  sacred  history  leaves  them  ((Ten.4:2i)  they  were  in  a 
prosperous,  developing  condition  and  must  have  developed  into  a 
powerful  government  during  twelve  centuries  or  more  before  the 
flood,  in  those  countries,  then  so  fertile,  on  the  Euphrates.  Enough 
to  account  for  all  that  is  found  of  that  civilization.  And  moreover, 
Josephus  writes  of  a  number  of  histories  written  by  ancient  Chal- 
deans, Pho6necians,  and  Egyptians,  which  are  not  extant  now.  If  it 
had  not  been  for  Mohammedan  literary  tires  we  might  have  more 
knowledge  of  the  ancients  than  we  have.  But  the  Lord  foresaw  we 
could  make  out  with  what  He  had  preserved  for  us.  Josephus  says 
all  those  spoke  of  the  flood  of  Xoah,  of  his  ark,  of  the  new  world 
after  the  flood,  of  the  tower  of  Babel  and  of  the  dispersion  of  man- 
kind from  thence.  I  suppose  Ave  will  have  to  write  over  them  ''ex- 
tinctus  et  mortuus,"'  dead  and  extinct.  But  in  the  Scriptures  we  trace 
both  civilization  and  history  through  certain  lines  clear  back  to 
Adam. 

And  those  who  write  of  the  incriptions  upon  these  clay  tablets  say 
they  are  safe  in  saying  that  civilization  existed  53,8(K»  .years  before 
the  beginning  of  the  Christian  era.  So,  then,  if  that  be  true,  as  we 
said  before,  the^ie  were  no  prehistoric  times  nor  dawn  of  civilization 
only  to  those  who  emerged  out  of  a  savage  state;  and,  it  is  not  true 
that  every  nation  has  had  its  stone  age,  as  some  writers  vainly 
claim. 

In  the  ruins  of  Xiffer,  or  Nippur,  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  first 
seats  of  civilization,  are  remains  of  their  great  temple  dedicated  to 
Mul-lil,  or  El-lil,  going  back  to  the  begiiming  of  Babylonian  history. 
This  temple  was  built,  no  doubt,  by  Oain  and  his  sons  and  dedicated 
to  Elohim,  which  in  the  Hebrew  is  a  plural  term  and  has  reference  to 
the  Trinity  of  persons  in  the  Godhead.  Mul-lil,  in  some  way,  I 
think,  refers  to  that  doctrine  as  revealed  to  Adam.  "El,"  in  the 
Hebrew  means  God.  It  is  a  singular  term  and  means  the  second 
IDerson   in  the  Godhead — or  the  Son  of  God — and  is  so  used,  more 


THE  i^TORV  OF  CREATTOX.  iM  1 . 

than  any  other,  in  tho  accnuiit  nf  creation,  and   !.-*  often  used  farther 
on  in  (ienesis. 

As  in  2S:1S),  Betliel.  in  Hebrew  is  the  liouse  of  (rod — Kl  for  («od. 
Betli — house  of  R.  V.  mar<j;in,  and  ;{."):  7.  Kl-Bethel,  R.  V.  marj^in. 
Tlie  (lod  of  Bethel.  Literally  the  (rod  of  the  house  of  (xod ;  or.  He 
who  dwells  in  Bethel — the  house  of  God — or  is  found  there  by  those 
who  seek  Him.  As  "(rod  is  in  Jlis  temple,  "  and  has  reference  to 
(rod,  the  Son. — (;'.;{:  18).  I  am  the  (lod  of  Bethel,  thus  dwelling;  with 
the  sons  of  men.     (Prov.  S:  JU  and  80:  4). 

And  El-elohe — Israel. — ((Jen.  88  :  2(»).  Margin  (fod.  the  God  of 
Israel,  Here,  El  means  (Jod,  El-ohe  Israel — the  (iod  of  Israel;  and 
El-oi  means  my  God.  (Mark  IT):  84).  Gr,  as  in  ^fatt.,  omittini;'  the 
o,El-i — my  God,  (27:  46)  El-i — my  God. 

The  Hebrew  often  floubles  to  emphasize  feelingl  or  zeal.  We 
lind  in  the  Hebrew  some  other  word  often  coupled  to  the  name  of 
God.  So  I  think  the  inscription  on  those  temple  remains  have  refer- 
ence to  the  real  Deity.  The  critics  say  they  do  not  know  whether 
the  true  reading  is  Mul-lil  or  El-lil.  When  it  is  understood,  it  will 
be  found,  so  T  think,  to  relate  to  the  real  Deity,  or  to  His  house. 

I  believe  it  was  built  by  those  antediluvians  and  dedicated  by  them 
to  the  Lord  God  Almighty,  ('ain  and  his  family,  no  doubt,  continued 
to  worship  God.  I  think  he  repented  and  was  pardoned  of  God.  The 
mark  set  on  him  of  God  implies  that;  and  he  was  under  His  pro- 
tection as  one  whom  He  forgiveth.  There  was  no  form  of  idolatry 
invented  then  ;  nor  even  thought  of.  So  it  seems,  it  is  a  later  pro- 
duct. 

The  close  resemblance  of  this  most  ancient  language  to  the  llelirew 
is  in  evidence  that  the  Hebrew  was  the  speech  of  the  antediluvians. 
(.>f  course  it  would  undergo  considerable  change  from  then,  until  the 
time  of  ^foses.  As  the  old  English  is  much  like  a  foreign  hinguage 
to  us  now. 

Idolatry,  I  believe,  was  a  corruption  of  the  true  worship  of  God. 
And  the  idea  of  a  plurality  of  gods,  I  believe,  is  a  corruption  of  the 
true  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  There  is  then,  in  every  species  of  idol- 
atry, so  I  think,  an  occult  witnes-i  to  the  true  religion;  which  was 
understood  by  all  me^i  in  antediluvian  times,  and  on  down  unto  the 
building  of  Babel's  tower,  before  they  were  deceived  by  the  devil  into 
i(h)latry.      In  the  sacred  history  we  see  some  of  his  methods. 

Ife  lirst  tempted  Adam  and  Eve  to  unfuith  and  disobedience.  Then 
Cain  to  jealousy,  to  malice,  and  to  murder.  Xext ,  the  first  Jyamech 
to  break  the  laws  of  marriage,  by  marrying  two  wives;  the  first  anfi 
only  case  of  the  kind,  however,  mentioned  in  the  antediluvian  his- 
tory. Then,  long  after,  he  tempted  the  sons  of  Seth  to  break  over 
the  time  honored  rule  and  nuirry  daughters  of  Cain's  descent ;  which 
they  did,  until  in  their  temerity  "they  took  them  wives  of  all  which 
they  chose;"  next  to  do  violence  unto  their  fellows.  Then  when 
they  had  gone  so  long  in  disobedience  and  transgression  without  being 
jnmished,  being  now  warmed  of  coming  punishment,  ihey  believed 
not  His  approaching  judgments. 

After  the  flood  he  tempted  the  preacher  himself,  to  dram  drinking 
until  he  got  drunk  ;   then  his  son  and  grandson  to  ilo  him  irreverence. 


212.  THE  STOFxY  OF  flTlEATION. 

By  and  by,  he  tempted  Ximrod  to  sin  ao'ainst  God's  providence;  to 
mislead  all  he  could  jnto  false  notions,  and  into  false  worship.  And 
thus  he,  by  and  by,  enthroned  himself,  as  t.lie  god  of  the  heathen 
world;  called  "the  god  of  this  world."  Tlie  spirit  that  now  worketh 
in  the  cliildren  of  disobedience.'"     (2  Oor.  4:4  and  Eph  2:2.) 

As  to  the  origin  of  religion,  it  began  when  Cxod  created  n}an.  There 
is  a  sense  in  which  religion  is  natural  to  inan.  He  was  created  not 
only  capable  of  religion,  but  verily,  religious.  And  after  he  fell  from 
his  first  estate,  he  stijl  retained  in  liis  nature  many  religious  charac- 
teristics. It  is  still  natural  for  man  to  fear  (Jod,  to  believe  in  future 
rewards  for  the  good,  and  in  future  punishments  for  the  bad. 

So  there  is  n  natural  religion.  Xo  one,  however,  since  the  fall  of 
man,  can  be  Scripturally,  evangelically  religious,  without  being  a 
believer  in  Christ,  as  his  own  personal  Savior,  and  regenerated  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  and  living  in  contradistinction  to  His  life  before,  in 
newness  of  life,  after  the  pattei*n  of  the  life  of  Ohrist,  as  far  as  we  are 
required  to  walk  in  His  steps.  But  some  will  not  understand  that, 
and  will  think  or  ask.  "How  can  tliese  things  be?"  Yet  they 
must  be,  for  a  sinner  to  get  to  Heaven.     (John  8:7,  Matt.  18:8). 

These  critics  suppose  from  tJie  inscriptions  on  the  tablets  that  tliis 
god  at  a  later  date  became  the  Bel  of  the  Semites  of  that  country. 
This  is  the  very  transition  I  have  been  speaking  of.  Bel,  or  Baal, 
means  lord,  or  master.  They,  under  Ximrod,  transferred  it  from  God 
to  the  sun — called  him  Bel,  or  Baal.  The  city  of  Sepharvaim,  or  Sip- 
para,  is  called  tlie  ancient  city  of  the  Babylonian  sun  god.  This  Sip- 
harvaim  is  a  Bible  name  of  a  city  of  either  Babylonia  or  Assyria. 
Nimrod,  doubtless,  had  this  temple  built.  If  not,  those  who  followed 
his  false  ideas  and  false  worship  must  have  built  it. 

He  is  the  first  on  record  who  taught  idolatry;  and  the  first  object 
he  taught  them  to  worship  was  the  sun.  Then  the  moon — called  the 
queen  of  Heaven.     Then  the  stars — -called  the  host  of  Heaven. 

Afterward,  they  say  this  Bel  was  replaced  by  Bel  Merodach,  of  Baby- 
lon, a  younger  deitj-.  This  is  the  second  step  in  the  decline.  In  this 
they  descended  from  wori^hipping  heavenly  objects  to  worshipping 
earthly  creatures,  until  hardly  any  kind  of  animal  escaped  their  folly 
of  veneration.  Bel,  or  Baal,  having  become  the  fly  god,  became  a 
general  psuedonym  for  all  living  creatures  in  many  countries — wor- 
shipped with  like  ceremonies  in  them  all. 

The  next  step  was  a  descent  to  Beelzebub,  the  cliief  of  the  devils — 
or  the  devil  himself.  That  is  the  bottoin  of  every  form  of  idolatry. 
And  so  well  established  <lid  he  become  in  all  heathen  lands,  that  he 
claimed  "all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the  glory  of  them ;"  and 
boasted  that  he  had  tiie  disposal  of  them  all,  with  all  their  fame. 
(Luke  4:5-7).  But  since  the  coming  of  Olirist,  and  his  work  for  man, 
the  head  of  his  power  over  mankind  has  been  bruised.  (Gen,  8: 
15).  The  devil  took  a  big  hand  in  idolatry  from  the  start.  It  was  a 
new  thing  in  the  earth  ;  up-t.o-date.  He  made  all  lie  could  out  of  it; 
men  thought  it  an  advance. 

In  all  the  lusts  and  violence  of  the  old  world,  idolatry  is  not  once 
mentioned  in  that  account.  It  was  an  invention  of  the  new  world. 
Satan  thought  in  this  specious  way  to  get  them    to  worship  himself; 


THE  STOKY  OF  HRKATIOX.  2I;{. 

l>lindo(l  thoni  as  lio  does  oUhts  today.  No  doii])t ,  but  tliey  lliou.ii'hl' 
il  was  siMonee  or  pliilosophy;  hut  indirectly  it  was  dovil  worship. 
Some  savage  tril)es  worship  the  devil  now  openly,  professedly,  to  keejj 
on  good  terms  with  him.  Tlie  half  civilized  worship  liim  iiidireclly. 
But  in  count  ries  enlightened  by  only  worldly  wisdom,  he  liides  his 
cloven  foot  from  them,  yet  they  worship  him  all  the  same,  (.lames 
;3:15,  I  Cor.  1:21). 

Some  of  them  think  it  is  philosophy,  some  that  it  is  s<'ience.  some 
that  is  refined  literature,  some  that  it  is  morality;  ])u(  il  is  tlie  devil. 
Some  of  them  are  so  badly  deceived  by  him  they  will  declare  that 
there  is  no  devil  at  all.  Cromwell  said  to  his  artist.  "Paint  me  with 
my  scars."  But  the  devil  tries  to  hide  his.  He  knows  if  they  find 
him  out  they  will  all  quit  him  at  once,  so  he  won't  let  them  see  be- 
hind the  curtain.     Thus  blinded  by  the  devil  are  they.     f2(!or.  *}.  4). 

In  those  most  ancient  records  are  found,  it  is  said,  hymns  ad- 
dressed to  the  gods.  They  may  have  been  among  the  antediluvians, 
wlio  often  used  the  plural  term  in  pure  worship  to  the  Lord,  growing- 
out  of  their  ideas  of  the  Trinity,  in  persons  three,  yet  essentially 
one.  I  think  they  certainly  used  hymns  in  worshiping  (lod.  The  Bible 
teaches  that  Enoch  prophesied  or  taught  publicly,  (.lude  1-1,  15),  and 
Xoah  preached. —  (2  Pet.  2:."),  1  Cor.  l-4:8.)  And  singing  of  hymns, 
prayers,  and  public  discourses  were  transferred  from  the  true  wor- 
ship of  God  to  idols  from  these  customs,  I  think. 

Those  hymns  are  said  to  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  the  j)i)e1ry  of 
the  Hebrew  race  and  to  their  hymns,  both  in  substance  and  expres- 
sion, another  evidence  that  the  Hebrew  was  the  first  language  on 
earth,  and  perhaps,  of  heaven,  too.  and  the  only  speech  of  ihe  world 
until  Babel's  confusion. 

And  further,  il  Is  said,  are  found  tliere,  an  account  of  the  flood  and 
of  creation  ;  very  much  like  the  text  in  (Jenesis.  1  have  thought 
that  the  book  of  Genesis  was,  perhaps,  compiled  from  ancient  rec- 
ords, which  the  Lord  had  his  faithful  servants  to  prepare  in  each 
generation  from  .\dam  to  ]Moses,  and  \o  keeji  as  the  lively  oracles  of 
His  kingdom  ^n  earth,  as  did  the  children  of  .Jacob  afterward;  (.A-cIs 
7  >}S,  Rom.  ii-A)  and  now  both  nature  and  art,  as  faithful  wiltiesses, 
are  agreeing  thereto. 

f -do  not  think,  though,  that  anything  in  the  book  of  Genesis  was 
co])ie(l  from  any  of  those  clay  tal)lets,  but  1  liclievc  1  hey  are  both 
from  the  same  source.  ('ain  knew  that  Adam  had  an  account  of 
creation,  and  after  he  was  separated  fi-om  the  rest  lie  ti-ied  to  copy  it 
from  Tnemory,  the  t)est  he  could  for  his  2iosterity,  together  wit  h  all 
other  facts  they  could  preserve  in  their  way  on  those  (day  tablets. 
•  The  account  of  the  flood  there  found,  I  think,  was  copied  from 
Noah's  accf)unt  of  it  by  some  Shemite  or  from  Shem's  account  of  il, 
for  their  own  peo])le,  which  was  aflei-  the  disjiersion  from  llabel's 
tower. 

•Vs  the  promised  seed  was  coursing  il  s  way  from  Adam  ihrough 
the  line  of  Selh,  it  is  supposable  that  the  1  i-ack  of  inspiration  would 
follow  in  the  same  line.  The  Old  Testament  was  to  be  a  witness  for 
the  ^Messiah,  so  if.  followed  along  with  Ilim  on  the  same  line,  f.lohn 
3:;5<).   1    Pel.   1:11).       Il    seems    tJial    the  very  Spirit   was  st  ruggling  to 


•211.  THE  STORY  OF  OREATIOX. 

express  Himself  throui>-h  tlie  holy  prophets,  from  Enoch  on  to  Mala- 
elii,  on  this  s^reat  suhjeot. 

As  the  web  of  the  chrysalis  is  woven  wliile  the  perfect  beinj;  is  being 
developed  in  it,  so  the  work  of  the  Bible,  especially  in  preparing?  its  ma- 
terials, must  besrin  as  eai'ly  as  the  first  germ  of  redemptive  life  was 
conceived  and  follow  the  development  of  that  life  until  perfection  is 
found  for  it  in  the  New  Testament.  (Heb.  10:7-U,  2  Tim.  1:10).  That 
is  the  fullness,  tlie  perfection  of  its  beins'.  So  the  liiie  of  inspiration, 
of  Bible  building,  f(dlowed  the  course  of  the  promised  seed  all  along 
througl)  the  generations  to  its  completion. 

The  Holy  Spirit,  the  spirit  of  Christ,  the  spirit  of  the  Father,  is 
the  real  author  of  the  Bible,  except  that  which,  if  one  iriight  so 
speak,  was  comnu<nded  by  the  Father.  Himself,  as  In  the  case  of 
some,  and  by  the  Son.  as  was  frequently  done  in  both  testaments. 
Aiid  th(*  Spirit  began  to  prepare  material  for  the  Bible  very  early — 
gave  us  that  which  no  human  historian  could  reach,  nor  philosopher 
discover,  neither  scientist  penetrate — that  is  the  facts  of  creation. 

Paul  is  a  greater  figure  in  the  .\ew  Testament  than  Luke,  yet  Luke 
wrote  the  great  life  of  Paul.  So  in  the  Adorable  Trinity  the  Son  is 
liigher  than  the  Spirit,  but  it  was  the  work  of  the  Spirit  to  give  us 
the  full  story  of  the  Son  of  God  from  Genesis  to  Revelation. 

Because  they  have  not,  as  yet,  found  the  remains  of  temples  in 
the  line  of  Seth's  race  from  Adan],  in  antediluvian  time,  is  no  reason 
to  cause  us  to  suppose  they  had  none.  They  may  yet  be  found.  I 
think  they  had  liouses  of  worship,  where  a  pure  worship  was  offered 
to  tbe  Lord  of  all,  according  to  that  dispensation  of  His  grace. 

I  think  that  before  Cain  slew  Abel  that  Adam  and  all  of  them  had 
settled  in  that  land  afterward,  called  the  land  of  Canaan.  In  thi.s 
hind  the  first  human  blood  was  shed.  Then  the  Lord  sent  Cain  and 
his  family  back  to  the  easl.wdience  they  came.  Here  he  and  his 
posterity  built  up  that  civilization,  the  remains  of  which  have  been 
examined  and  pronounced  the  oldest  yet  found.  While  Adarn,  Seth, 
and  all  that  line  dwelt  in  Canaan  and  spread  out  over  all  those 
western  lands,  I  think  this  was  the  home  of  all  the  great  patriarchs 
in  Seth's  line,  down  to  Noah.  Proofs  of  their  civilization  and  faith 
jnay  yet  be  found.  The  site  of  Eden's  garden  may  still  be  found, 
with  the  date  of  creation  and  other  primal  facts  written  by  Adam. 

The  supposed  dates,  whether  great  or  small,  of  writers,  are  no 
proofs  of  time  whatever.  If  any  date  is  clearly  made  out  to  be  as 
much  as  2,500  years  before  the  Christian  era,  I  would  suppose  that 
it  was  made  in  antediluvian  time  by  antediluvians  themselves.  Of 
course,  those  which  describe  the  deluge  were  written  since  that  event; 
and,  as  there  are  discrepancies  in  tables  of  Bible  chronology,  we  may 
expect  to  find  them  in  these  dates  on  monuments  and  clay  tablets, 
or  elsewhere. 

We  have  successfully  shown  that  the  Jews  were  never  in  a  savage 
state.  From  the  daj's  of  .\braham,  as  did  the  antediluvians,  they 
understood  the  use  of  the  ordinary  metals.  In  the  times  of  the 
Judges  they  had  blacksmiths  and  artificers  in  fine  metals  that  made, 
tiled  and  sharpened  tools  for  domestic  use  and  for  warfare.  (Judges 
H:2I,  22,  .'jrS:    I  Sam.  17 :88,  JW).       In   the    age  of    Isaac   and    Laban 


THE  STORY  OK  ORKATTOX.  •_'].'). 

thoy  had  ornnmoiits  of  silver  niyl  j^nld.  ((ion.  '24 -.'yli)  and  coin  of  sil- 
ver in  the  times  of  the  Friend  of  (rod.  ((ren.  28:1())  and  ltoM  valued 
by  the  shekel,     ((jen.  24:22).     All  evidences  of  civilization. 

Artificial  lights  are  also  considered  j^ood  evidences  of  civilizalion. 
In  the  time  of  Moses  the  Israelites  had  a  fine  arrant^emenl  for  li^dil- 
ing  the  tabernacle  by  well-prepaivd  vegetable  oil,  and  afterwards  for 
the  temple.  In  the  days  of  Eli's  administration  they  kept  The 
lamps  burning  all  night  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  at  Shiloh. 

trideon  used  lamps  in  his  campaign  against  the  Midianites.  They 
were  used  on  wedding  and  all  festival  occasions  by  night — for  night 
traveling,  domestic  use,  and  when  sailing  on  water  at  night.  They 
were  familiar  to  the  Jews  in  the  days  of  Ohrist  on  earth.  St.  John 
and  Zechariah  both  speak  of  them  in  prophecy.  One  writer  says  the 
use  of  wicks  for  lamps  and  candles  was  discovered  about  a  century 
ago.  Certainly  he  never  studied  the  Bible  on  the  subject ;  for  the 
candlestick,  or  its  lamps  in  the  tabernacle,  they  had  snuff-dishes. 
(Ex.  25:88).  They  would  not  have  needed  snuff-dishes  without  they 
had  wicks.  The  directions  Moses  received  in  regard  to  making  the 
lamps,  proceed  as  if  he  had  been  familiar  with  such  things.  They 
must  have  been  in  use  before  his  time;  (den.  it'):!?)  the  burning 
lamp  is  here  spoken  of  as  being  then  familiar,  [t  implies  a  conslaiil, 
steady  light,  instead  of  something  of  a  flashy  nature. 

The  lamp  is  mentioned  in  .Job  12:5.  This  is  the  next  oldest  book 
to  Genesis.  Here  a  backslider  is  compared  to  a  neglected  lairip,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  foolish  virgins,  (Matt.  25:8).  Job  J8  :(i  s)>eaks  of 
the  candle,  metaphofically,  however.     This  is  its  first  mention. 

No  historian  can  tell  when  modern  candles  were  invented,  or  first 
used,  nor  do  we  know  whether  this  was  like  any  of  the  modern  ones 
or  not.  In  Job  21  -.17  candle  is  a'^jain  mentioned  in  ligurative  lan- 
guage, and  also  in  29:3  allusively.  Now,  in  every  place  it  implies 
that  candles  were  then  known  literally,  or  the  language  would  have 
been  unintelligent  to  that  generation  of  readers. 

I  don't  see  myself  how  Xoah  could  have  been  comfortable  on  the 
waters  of  the  deluge,  though  in  the  ark  at  night  without  an  artificial 
light;  nor  do  I  see  how  Methuselah  could  go  through  so  many 
nights  as  he  did  without  them;  neither  do  I  see  how  Adam  coulil 
live  980  years  without  inventing  them  for  his  use.  Certainly  The 
genius  that  invented  tents,  harps,  and  organs,  invented  candles  and 
lamps,  too.  I  think  they  were  used  quite  early  in  Adam's  family. 
If  it  is  an  evidence  of  civilization,  then  surely  those  has  always,  since 
man's  creation,  been  civilization  in  the  world.  Doubtless,  that  is 
the  truth. 

For  the  lamps  in  the  tabernacle,  olive  oil  well  beaten,  was  used. 
And  all  of  the  metallic  part  of  the  candlestick,  with  all  of  its 
branches,  and  lamps,  were  of  pure  gold,  well  beaten.  (Ex.  25:5>l-4(>). 
And  as  to  impressing  letters  on  a  chiy  mould,  .lob  understood  that. 
(Job  88:14),  "turned  as  clay  to  the  seal.'  \n  allusion  to  thus  seal- 
ing contracts,  as  are  found  on  those  clay  tablets  spoken  of  above,  and 
as  men  do  now,  using  paper  and  ink.  This  last  method  was  known 
in  St.  .John's  time.  8  .John,  verse  18.  .Job  lived,  1  think,  in  the  i-nA 
of    ()atriarchal  times,    between   the  twelve    patriarchs   of    Israel    and 


21 G.  THE  STORY  OF  OREATTON. 

Mosps.  And  we  see  that  sealing  records  in  a  clay  mould- was  familiar 
in  his  age  of  the  world.  Job  was  then  called  a  man  of  the  east,  as 
was  Abram,  before  he  came  to  Cianaan.  And  it  is  in  these  same  east- 
ern countries  where  annals,  contracts  and  poetry  are  found,  thus  pre- 
served l)y  art  and  nature;  witnessing  to  Bibl?  statements  of  the  same 
times  and  customs.  They  show,  too,  that  the  antediluvian  customs 
were  brought  over  into  the  post-diluvian  world,  and  thai  it  is  the 
same  race  of  people,  with  the  old  civilization. 

And  the  art  of  engraving  letters  on  stone  was  vised  in  Job's  time: 
and  in  allusion  to  it  he  speaks  of  an  iron  pen.  So  (hey  used  the  pen, 
wrote  and  printed,  in  Job's  age  of  the  world.  Printing,  then,  must 
have  been  the  process  of  stamping  on  those  soft  moulds  of  clay.  For 
engraving  "in  the  rock"'  they  must  have  used  an  iron  or  steel  drill, 
forced  by  (he  stroke  of  a  hammer.  Iron  and  steel  both  were  used 
tlien.  (Job  20:24).  ''The  ii'on  weapon  and  the  bow  of  steel."  Job 
also  speak-i  of  books.  (Oh.  19  :2;^2-l.).  This  is  the  oldes(.  date  book  is 
mentioned  in  the  Bible.  In  Ex.  17:14,  the  word  book  has  priority 
of  place,  but  in  Job  it  has  priority  in  time.  Recent  excavations  in 
(hose  lands  show  (hat  as  far  back  as  Job's  time,  and  farther,  even 
into  the  age  of  Adam,  they  had  in  those  countries  what  were  called 
book.s — in  this  clay  material — thus  stamped,  or  printed.  Before  Job's 
day  the  Egyptians  were  writing  on  paper  of  the  papyrus,  or  the  bid- 
rush  plant,  whicii  art  is  said  to  date  back  of  JNIoses'  day;  which  mate- 
rial could  be  made  water  proof,  (Ex.  2:8),  when  a  mother's  love  saved 
by  it  Israel's  great  deliverer  and  lawgiver. 

And  that  law,  thus  given,  the  Israelites  werC-  commanded  of  tlie 
Lord,  to  write  on  stones.  (Deut.  27:8).  If  they  couldn't  write,  they 
could  not  have  done  so;  to  write  them  so  plainly  that  their  children 
could  read  them.  It  implies  that  their  children  could  read.  They 
plastered  stones  for  this  purpose.  As  we  now  often  see  stones  by  tlie 
public  roadside  bearing  advertisements,  so  those  of  old  bore  (lod's 
commandments;  and  plainly  enough  for  every  wayfaring  man  to  find 
his  way  to  the  celestial  home. 

That  must  have  been  a  pretty  scene;  much  better  than  pictures  of 
circus  shows.  What  a  pity  that  our  public  rocks,  whose  beauty 
belongs  to  all,  should  l»e  thus  defaced  for  the  sake  of  revenue  I  And 
none  of  them  ever  have  (he  fairness  of  principle  toretiu'n  and  wash  it  off. 

They  were  commanded  to  write  the  ten  commandments  over  their 
doors.  (Deut.  6  :9,  11 :20).  What  if  you  should  go  to  town  and  se» 
them  written  over  every  man's  store,  -paJ-4ta«*  or  other  place  of  busi- 
ness? And  how  beautiful  to  see  the  like  of  it  all  out  in  the  country, 
too;   and  all  it  implies  practicetl  under  it. 

Stones  were  often  set  up  as  witnesses.  As  this  stone  is  witness, 
(Oen.  81:1S,  51-52,  Josh.  1:5,  6,  20,  21,  22,  21.  Here  Jacob  and  Laban 
made  a  covenant,  as  of  stone.  And  the  Israelites  had  many  memo- 
rials in  stone.  It  was  also  customary  in  those  days  to  write  on 
tables  or  slabs  of  stone,  where  they  could  be  procured.  Hence,  are 
found  now  records  on  slabs,  or  tables  of  stone,  in  eastern  countries, 
of  remarkable  events  that  occurred  in  those  days  among  different 
nations  of  people. 

Som(w~)f  1  he  ba( ties,    wi(h    the  results,    be(ween    (he    Hebrews   and 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATToX.  217. 

another  people,  are  found  tlms  recorded  by  them,  wliile  Ihe  Hebrew 
account  of  them  is  preserved  in  the  Bibh' ;  quite  well  a^rceinj; 
toijetlier  in  statement  of  the  facts,  l)ut  showinji'  tlie  superiority  of  the 
Hebrew  over  the  lower  meth.ods. 

The  be>,'innins^s  of  the  arts  we  have  been  diseoursinL^  upon,  no  man 
can  tell,  but  this  is  the  f!;eneral  teachinj^  of  the  Bible  on  the  suliject. 
Every  useful  art,  craft  or  invention,  or  discovery,  brintring  knowledge 
and  happiness  to  mankind,  is  of  (rod;  who  by  instinct,  reason,  faith 
and  helpful  suggestions  did  teach  them. 


THAITKR    XV. 


Thk  Holy  Spirit,  in  using  a  human  agent,  sufl'ers  his  pec\iliar 
style  of  writing  to  distinguish  him  by  his  pei'sonalities  from  all  oth- 
ers; hence  Daniel  is  dilTerent  from  all  the  rest  of  the  prophets.  The 
self-constituted  critics  have  handled  him  for  it,  too. 

If  he  was  a  public  speaker,  he  must  have  been  a  very  fluent  one. 
A  trained  Hebrew  from  a  child,  in  royalty  afterward,  established  in 
the  courts  of  Babylon,  his  education  sympathized  with  both  peoples; 
so  he  was  a  happy  combination  of  the  good  he  extracted  from  them 
both.  His  writings  ]iartake  of  the  qualities  of  the  statesman,  as  well 
as  of  the  prophet.     He  excelled  greatly  in  both. 

Take  this  as  an  example.  (Jli.  2  :i4:.  This  is  understood,  as  far  as 
I  know,  to  Tnean  Christianity.  I  do  not,  however,  think  it  means 
that  she  shall  ever  be  a  temporal  government;  nor  shall  she,  never- 
theless, being  a  spiritual  government,  mix  in  with  the  spiritual  a 
temporal  power;  but  through  her  holy  spiritual  influences  she  shall 
tone  up  the  temporal  powers,  so  as  to  ameliorate,  soften  and  reline 
them,  so  they  will  acknowledge  Christian  truth,  and  also  practice  it. 
And  according  to  many  other  Scriptures,  they  shall  become  Chris- 
tian, both  nationally  and  (md-  personally.  The  time  this  kingdom 
was  to  be  set  up  is  specified.  It  was  to  be  during  the  sovereignty  of 
the  Roman  government,  which  history  shows  tf>  have  been  true  of 
Christianity. 

The  prophecy  says  they  shall  mingle  themselves  with  the  seed  of 
men,  that  is,  the  Romans  shall  mix  themselves  w'ith  other  peoples, 
which  history  shows  they  did.  So  many  nationalities  brought  to- 
gether against  their  own  will,  under  a  system  of  government  they 
did  not  like,  would  not  naturally  cleave  together :  for  while  Roman 
patriotism  would  be  like  iron  sinews  in  sui)p(ui  of  their  chosen  form 
of  government,  the  adhesiori  of  the  conipicri'd  would  be  as  britllc  as 
burnt  clay. 

Whether  or  not  that  great  government  went  to  pieces  for  want  of 
natural  adhesion  in  its  several  part.'* — nevertheless  it  did  go  to  pieces 
and  the  prophecy  was  and  is  fulfilled;  not  by  the  prediction  of  a  wise 
statesman,  calculated  from  the  result  of  elements  now  at  work,  but 
as  foreseen  by  the  pro]}het  centuries  before,  whereas,  yet  there  was 
nothing  of  it  in  sight  lo  base  a  prediction  upon,  it  was  reveah'd  to  him 
from  above.  He  was  inspired  of  (^od.  We  see  the  fulfillment,  iji  part, 
at  least,  and  how  much  remains  to  be  fulfilled  1  do  not  claim  to  know. 
\\(>  know  thai  while   the  Uoitian  li-overnment  had  in  it  great  strenL'th 


2iS.  THE  STORY  OF  ORKATION. 

and  ondiiranee,  it  also  had  in  it  elemenlH  of  weakness,  and  the  weak- 
est of  all  was  their  own  wickedness  in  the  sight  of  high  heaven.  It 
has  long  since  been  swept  away  from  the  eartli,  except  what  of  it 
remains  in  art,  history,  law,  politics,  science  and  literature.  A  stand- 
ing precedent  of  warning  t(j  all  others. 

All  governments  would  also  do  well  to  duly  consider  what  is  said  in 
Ps.  2:9-12,  in  prophecy  of  Christ,  concerning  whose  kingdom  Daniel 
prophesied.  Many  a  government  ha?  been  broken  to  pieces  like  a  pot- 
ter's ves.sel.  Many  others  have  seemingly  moved  on  in  their  pros- 
perity without  considering  tlie  real  cause  of  it;  or  of  the  failure  of 
others  that  stood  out  in  bold  relief  on  either  side,  as  examples  of 
warning  against  infidelity  toward  (rod  and  His  Christ,  and  His  spirit- 
ual claims  upon  all  men,  and  temporal  claims,  too,  has  he  upon  all 
men  which  none  should  dare  to  ignore. 

The  judyes  of  men  and  executors  of  law  would  do  well  to  consider 
the  obligations  they  are  under  to  that  Supreme  Judge  of  all  men, 
executor  of  law,  and  disburser  of  its  rewards  and  penalties. 

The  breadth  of  that  propliecy.  (Dan.  2  rl;";),  embraces  also  the  Gre- 
eian,  Persian  and  Babj'lonian  governments.  And  as  the  Roman,  they 
are  all  gone,  long  since,  except  what  of  them  still  lives  in  civil,  lit- 
erary and  mviral  influences.  (Ps.  2:11).  Here  the  rulers,  the  judges — 
all  that  are  in  authority  on  earth — are  exhorted  to  serve  the  Lord  with 
fear.  They  should  do  this  at  all  times.  And  when  they  have  occa- 
sion for  rejoicing,  the  same  verse  teaches,  to  rejoice  with  trembling. 
And  why?  Because  all  would  do  well  to  remem))er  His  juclgments 
upon  Xebuchadnezzar  and  Herod,  who  took  more  honor  to  themselves 
than  they  slu)uld  have  done,  instead  of  acknowledging  to  their  people 
what  they  owed  to  God;  and  that  in  a  public  manner — by  speech  or 
print,     (ban.  4:29-81,  Acts  12:21-23). 

And  let  all  who  think  they  can  niake  small  variations  from  His 
laws  with  impunity  consider  what  He  says  in  Ps.  2:12.  They  may 
think  they  can  set  aside  His  Sabbath  at  times,  to  suit  their  conven- 
ience or  pleasure,  yet  it  is  not  best  to  provoke  His  wrath  ;  no,  not  iu 
the  least.  It  would  be  a  serious  emei-gency  that  would  justify  any 
government  to  carry  on  any  of  its  legitimate  business  on  the  Sabbath 
day,  or  in  its  evening  either.  Executive,  legislative,  judicial,  postal, 
military  or  other  work  or  business,  should  tarry  till  that  holy,  revered 
tiTne  is  all  past. 

Yet  when  His  initial  judgments  are  coming,  their  so-called  wise 
men  will  endeavor  to  explain  them  all  away.  But  it  would  be  better, 
by  far,  to  consider  that  the  stroke  of  an  angel  destroyed  in  a  single 
■  night  18"), ()()()  Assyrian  armed  soldiers.  (2  Kings  18:3;")).  And  some 
of  them  had  the  temerity  to  try  to  explain  that  away,  too.  (A(!ts  13: 
8-10);  yet  it  remains  a  fact,  all  the  same.  There  be  those,  too,  who 
try  to  find  some  significant,  or  even  insignificant,  if  they  can,  fault 
with  the  language  of  the  Scriptures;  but  that  don't  amount  to  any- 
thing.    It  will   never  do  them,  or  any  one  else,  a  particle  of  good. 

The  thing  for  every  one  to  do,  rulers  and  all  others,  is  to  get  its 
blessed  uieaning,  take  its  supreme  comfort,  and  the  present  happi- 
ness promised  in  obeying  its  teachings.  And  to  all  such  as  follow  onjts 
happy  way,  which  shines  "more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day,''  an 


TITE  STOHY  OF  CREATTOX.                            I'l'.i.  ! 

ohii-nal  felicity  is  promised.     (Frov.  4:18).     It  is  llu'  nxji-c  important  \ 

for  tliose  in  office,  as  11  is  written,  '^ike  priest,  like  people.    (Ihjs.  4  :  ' 

(5-11).  And  is  true,  too,  of  all  in  civil  and  military  offices,  they  are  1 
culled,  also,    shepherds  of   the   people.     CIs.  o6:9-12.      If    the   whole 

head  is  sick,  if  the  whole  heart  is  faint,  the  whole  political  hody  sym-  ^ 

pathizes  with  them.     (Is.  1 :2-10).     The  public  follows  them  and  suf-  j 

fers  with  them.  These  words  of  the  Lord,  lou^  before  they  came  to  1 
pass,  wex*e  spoken  and  written  and  were  fearfully  fulfilled.     And  tlie 

dealintjs  of  Providence  with  the  people  of  Israel,  which  make  a  large  ] 

part  of  Bible  history,  are  on  record  by  His   orders,  for  the  benefit  of  ] 

all  otiier  people,  and  that  for  all  time  to  come.  " 

Dan.  9:24,  I  think,  gives  us  to  understand  that  after  the  destruc-  " 

tion   of  .Jerusalem   by  the   Romans,  A.  D.,  70,   with   her  temple  and  ■ 

her  altars,  that  henceforth  vision  and  prophecy  should  cease.  But  > 
His  judgments  are  prepared  for  all  time  to  come. 

Miracles,  according  to  history,  ceased,  too,  about  that  time,  which  "j 

would  be  expected  from  the  fact,  that  the  spirit  of  i)ropheey  and  the  ' 

power  to  perform  miracles  were  always  associated  together — all  since  <. 

claimed    as   miracles  and   revelations   are  only  inventions  of  human  ^ 

beings,  aided  by  the  devil.     It  seems,  however,  that  a  time  of  mira-  ^ 

cles  is  to  return  to  the  earth,  not    miracles  of  mercy,  though,  but  of  ' 

judgment.  ' 

It  appears  that  the  time  has  passed  for  obvious  demonstrations  of  ! 

extraordinary  power ;    yet  the  Lord  is    permitting  or  doing  wonders  - 

every  day  greater  than  all  the  miracles  on  record.      Rev.  16:21  pre-  ; 

diets  a  time  of  miracles.     As  history  does  not  not  describe  its  fulfil-  ^ 

ment  it  must  be  yet  to  come.  'i 

In  Zechariah,  fourteenth  chapter  and  at  the  first  verse,  the  pi-ophet  ] 

begins  at  times  close  to  his  own  day.  From  the  first  to  the  third  ] 
verse,  I  think,  were  fulfilled   before   the  coming  of  Christ.      Those 

were  evil  days  to  the  Jews,  but  they  gained  many  signal  providential  ''■ 
victories   over  their  enemies.     Verses    fourth  and   fifth   refer  to  the 

work  of  Christ  on  earth,  unto  the  time  of  ("ionstanline  the  (Ireat  an<l  ] 

the  triumpli  of  Christianity  in  that  age.  Verses  sixth  and  seventh  ^ 
i*elate  to  the  dark  ages  that  followed,  which  were  not  entirely  dark, 
yet  lacked  much  of  being  clear,  at  the  end  of  which  was  light,  in  the 
dawning  of  the  reformation  which  followed.  C!orrelative  with  this 
period  the  eiL'hth  verse  was  fulfilled  in  the  happy  experience  of  justi- 
fication   by    faith    in    (Ihrist,  and  was  continuously    fulfilled  in    the 

blessed  experiences  of  grace,  which  (fods  people  then  and  have  sinco  ;' 
enjoyed.     While  in  the  present  missionary  work  and  movements  the 

nintli  verse  is  being  fulfilled — and  when  "the  fullness  of  the  (xentiles  .,^  > 
be  come  in'"  then  the  "shis  of  Jacob'"  shall  return  to  Palestine.  TheS  C/i>| 
verses   tenth   and   eleventh    predict  a  happy  state  of   iniprovement 

in    Canaan   under  their  control.     The  twelfth  verse  shows  after  that  ; 

event  the  plagues  that  shall  come  upon  the  enemies  of  (rod's  ])eople,  " 
and   after  a  miraculous   manner  at    that,  which   the  thirteenth  verse 

shows   shall  be  especially  applicable  to  the  'l"in-k<.     Something  cor-  ' 

responding  to  the  feast  of  tabernacles  will  then  lie  established  by  the  i 
(vhristians  at  the  suggestion  of  the  spirit  of  Cod    upon    their   hearts 

and  minds;   and  nil  who  will  not    observe  it  shall  hi'  miraculously,  as  : 


220.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

is  shown  in  tlie  following  verses  unto  the  seventeen tli,  visited  with 
peculiar  punishments.  In  relation  to  a  part  of  this  visitation  the 
Lord  asks  the  question  :  "Hath  tlie  rain  a  father."  (Job  88:28).  It 
does  not  come  without  a  ]e<;itimate  cause.  He  asks  again.  "Can  the 
lieavens  give  showers?"  (.ler.  44:22).  Xature  of  herself  cannot  give 
us  rain. 

In  Hos.  2:21,  22  the  growing  crops  are  represented  as  (!rying  to 
the  earth,  the  eai'th  crying  to  tlie  heavens  for  moisture  and  they 
crying  to  the  Lord  of  all  for  ability  to  answer  that  prayer,  without 
which  thej- cannot  answer  the  pi-ayer  of  those  below  them  ;  l>ut  He 
promises  that  the  heavens  shall  hear  the  earth,  that  the  earth  shall 
hear  the  cry  of  the  growing  crops  and  that  the  growing  crops  shall 
hear  the  cry  of  man's  need,  and  that,  that  need  shall  be  supplied. 
Man  is  at  one  end  of  the  chain  and  (rod  is  at  the  other.  Nature  is  at 
ueither  end;  she  is  the  medium  between  the  two.  In  temporal 
things  God  answers  us — blesses  us  through  nature  in  our  own  efforts. 
So  come  all  our  blessings.  (Jrod  acts  upon  nature  to  produce  the 
result.  So  all  good  has  a  legitimate  cause,  and  no  evil  is  without  its 
just  cause.  The  curse,  causeless,  never  comes.  It  is  always  for 
man's  dereliction  somewhere,  as  evei'y  effect  is  traceable  to  its  own 
cause. 

Verse  the  eighteenth  shows  that  this  peculiar  plague  shall  be  upon 
Egypt,  too,  if  she  comes  not  up  to  keep  this  feast  of  tabernacles; 
for  while  she  seems  not  to  have  to  depend  upon  rain,  yet,  if  no  rain, 
snow  or  dew  should  fall  on  the  sources  of  the  Nile  she  would  be  cut 
off  miraculously  for  her  disobedience  as  any  of  the  rest,  which,  to 
say  the  least,  would  be  seen  plain  enough  to  be  providential.  A 
judgment  on  her.  While  she  juay  think  she  can  get  along  without 
rain  ;  therefore,  specific  warning  is  given  to  her  people,  for  neither 
can  they  get  along  without  Providence,  (xod,  in  nature,  producing 
the  desired  results  for  all  men.  She  has  always',  as  far  as  we  know, 
got  it  indirectly  from  other  sources,  which  are  fed  by  rain,  as  snow 
is  only  rain  after  all  and  therefore 'is  remotely  dependent  upon  rain 
as  much  as  (ithers  for  her  fertility  and  crops.  There  are  no  coun- 
tries that  can  get  along  without  rain — all  are  dependent  upon  Provi- 
dence. It  cannot  be  successfully  denied.  Then,  let  none  think 
they  can  do  without  the  Lord,  God  Almighty  and  His  providence. 

While  the  twentieth  verse  triumphantly  shows  a  complete  victory 
of  the  spiritual  over  the  temporal ;  in  that  day  all  of  His  people  shall 
be  as  holy  as  are  his  ministers  now,  and  all  of  them  as  zealous  as  the 
preachers  now.  Those  who  were  weak  before  shall  be  as  David,  and 
those  that  were  strong  before  shall  now  be  as  the  angels  of  (rod. 
(Zech.  12:8).  Then  the  livery  business,  charged  now  so  much  with 
Sabbath  breaking,  shall  be  run  religiously;  so  will  every  otiier  pur- 
suit of  men.  Then  shall  be  fulfilled  the  prophecy  in  Isaiah  66:16-24. 
A  time  of  miracles,  of  miraculous  intervention,  is  foretold  in  a  latter 
period  of  this  world's  history.  (Rev.  20:9).  The  Almighty  will  do 
the  thing  best  to  be  done  for  every  age  of  mankind.  So  the  Bible 
teaches. 


THK  STORY  OF  ("/REATTOX.  2'Jl. 

(niAl'TKi;    X\'l. 

Thk  general  (oael\in<;f  of  llie  Bible  is  seen  to  be  true  before 
our  eyes  everyday.  For  iiistancH^,  if  we  take  the  present  cotHlit  ion 
of  society,  it  shows  that  the  story  of  tlie  serpent  is  true.  The  de- 
ceit, flattery,  treachery  and  falsehood  i^ractieed  in  it,  and  much  of  it 
often  done  only  for  a  show,  is  of  the  nature  of  the  serpent,  which 
means  to  deceive,  and  comes  from  the  devil.  Take  the  mrist  refined 
society  of  the  (ireeks  and  the  Romans  m  the  time  of  tlie  Apostles  of 
Christ  and  it  was  a  bundle  of  deceit;  and  every  circle  of  hisrh  life  to- 
day, from  I'oyalty  on  down,  is  full  of  deceit,  except  where  Christiani- 
ty controls.  If  you  don't  J)elieve  it  worry  their  patience  a  little  and 
you  will  find  out. 

Josephus  says  that  the  Lord  put  poison  under  the  serpent's  tongue 
as  a  weapon  of  defence,  after  the  temptation,  having  deprived  liim 
of  his  feet  and  power  of  speech,  both  of  which  he  had  before,  ft  is 
said  that  the  gland  that  secretes  the  poison  is  located  under  the  eye; 
Jience  it  is,  perhaps,  they  have  the  power  to  charm  and  capture  tlieir 
prey  through  the  eye. 

Those  who  endeavor  to  seduce  persons  from  innocency  have  tlie 
essence  of  the  serpent  in  them,  and  in  times  of  temptation,  plying 
their  arts,  the  very  green  poison  of  the  serpent  is  often  seen  floating 
in  their  eyes.  It  is  a  positive  fact.  Xo  wonder  our  Lord  calls  them 
children  of  the  old  serpent,  the  devil.     He  was  the  first  deceiver. 

Poison  is  in  the  constitution  of  fallen  human  nature,  and  in  ;in 
increased  I'atio,  aecording  to  the  individual  wickedness  of  each.  Mil- 
ton believed  that  after  Eve  and  Adam  sinned  their  natures  were  as- 
sailed by  vile  passions,  and  that  tliey  indulged  themselves  in  venal 
pleasures.  It  is  certain  that  this  poison  is  in  the  human  system . 
hence  internal  and  external  applications  of  ]ioisoiis,  as  iilcdhol, 
strychnine  and  others,  inflame  it. 

There  is  no  amount  of  culture,  grace  nor  habitual  piety,  thai  will 
insure  personal  safety  against  it.  if  we  presume  the  risk.  Therefore, 
the  Bil)le  not  only  teaches  us  to  resist  the  tempter  but  also  warns  us 
to  flee  away  from  his  presence.  Xot  even  is  solitude  a  safe  place  for 
piety  always,  for  even  there  will  the  tempter  come  as  he  <li(l  lo 
Christ  in  the  lonely  wilderness;  often  both  piety  and  purity  are 
safer  in  good  society  than  alone  in  the  desert  or  in  utlier  solitary 
walks  of  life. 

What  this  world  calls  retinemenl  is  only  exterior.  W'liat  iheycall 
human  nature  is  denuding  it  of  thai  exterior.  Then  you  will  see  the 
<levil  played.  Therefore,  they  acknowledge  the  universal  depravity 
of  the  human  nature,  innate  and  total.  Then,  what  human  nalnre 
needs  is  an  upsetting  from  on  high. 

Take  the  work  of  the  disciples  of  Christ  and  compare  ir  in  its  re- 
sults with  the  so-called  refined  teaching  of  the  (xreeks  and  of  the 
Romans  and  it  shows  an  incomparable  superiority  over  them,  which 
the  (h-eeks  and  Romans  acknowledged  they  could  not  understand. 
The  ('hristians  inculcated  courtesy  among  themselves  and  the  love 
of  another,  as  well  as  of  one's  own  self,  wliich  politeness  was  but  the 
out'j:oing.    therefore,   of  brotherly   kindness  dwelling  in  the  heart,    in 


222.  THE  STORY  OF  OEEATTON. 

coinparisoii  with  which  the  ornametita]  ])olish  of  tIip  world  is  ])iit  a 
show.     It.  is  diplomatic  through  and  tlirough. 

The  old  heathens  wondered  how  the  Oliristian.s  could  ])e  so  polite, 
and  so  kind,  and  so  cheerful,  when  they  could  see  no  rewards  to 
come  to  them  from  the  government,  nor  from  anywhere  else  on 
earth.  Its  like  was  never  seen  among  them  hefoi'e.  The  heathen 
expected  to  he  paid  for  his  kindness,  and  even  for  his  politeness  too. 
It  was  a  matter  of  diplomacy  with  him;  and  is  to  this  day.  He 
judged  tlie  Christians  hy  himself,  and  was  surprised  to  find  that  they 
were  not  seeking  any  personal  interest  in  heing  ])olite  and  kind  to 
everyhody,  especially  to  those  in  office.  Even  Felix  expected  a  re- 
ward from  Paul,  the  prisoner  at  the  liar — sought  assiduously  for  it 
day  hy  day,  indirectly.     (Acts  24:2()). 

It  is  n.  wonder  that  the  Christians  succeeded  as  well  as  they  did, 
against  such  gi-eat  odds.  Their  enemies  said  they  turned  the  world 
upside  down.  They  did  it  not  of  themselves,  but  by  that  Divine 
power,  that  caused  them  always  to  triumph.  (2  (Vjr.  2  :14).  A  i-eligion 
with  less  credentials  is  nor.  worthy  of  the  name. 

Science,  j^hilosojjhy,  nor  other  worldly  intelligence  can  never  save 
the  heathens.  They  may  endeavor  to  show  them  that  their  fears  and 
their  hopes  are  superstitious,  yet  if  they  should  drive  them  away 
from  these,  they  could  do  no  more,  and  the  heathens  would  be  no 
nearer  salvation.  Christianity  under  God  can  save  them,  because 
she  offers  them  something  better  than  one  supei-etition  for  another. 
Those  try  to  take  away  their  fears,  and  hopes,  and  worship,  leaving 
them  bereft  as  to  the  present  and  future  both;  while  (Christianity 
relieves  their  fears,  by  giving  them  a  sure  source  of  protection  against 
all  their  unfounded  fears;  not  robbing  them  of  their  hopes,  but  giv- 
ing tliem  a  better — a  true  hope.  Xor  does  .^he  tell  them  to  cease  to 
worsiiip,  but  directs  and  leads  them  to  the  true  object  of  worship — 
teaches  them  to  worship  aright,  and  whom  to  v.'orship. 

^\'herever  Christ ianity  takes  anything  from  them,  she  puts  some- 
thing better  in  its  place;  while  science,  philosophy  and  common 
worldly  intelligence  leaves  them  bereft  of  everything  they  held  most 
dear  to  themselves,  wherefore  it  is,  that  none,  or  all  of  these,  can 
never  save  the  lieathens;  nor  can  they  save  their  votaries  here  at 
home. 

What  heathens  need  is  Christianity;  and  it  is  tlie  most  needed 
thing  for  all  people.  Atheism,  and  no  form  of  infidelity,  can  ever 
do  them  any  good.  The  heathen  sees  no  comfort  in  any  of  them  for 
himself;  whereas,  he  tinds  some  in  a  superstitious  way  in  what  he 
has,  and  in  what  he  does  in  his  way  of  worshipping,  wherefore  he  will 
not  give  up  what  he  has  for  atheism  nor  any  form  of  infidelity.  But 
Christianity  brings  him  an  ultimate  answer  to  everything  he  has  been 
reaching  after ;  and  an  all  convincing  supernatural  power  to  sustain 
him  in  all  his  fears  and  hopes,  as  it  sustains  its  own  truthfulness  in 
all  things. 

These  evidences  convince  hitn  lliat  she  is  tlie  very  thing  hi^  nature 
needs — the  very  thing  he  had  been  seeking  for;  therefore,  as  soon  as 
he  imderstands  her  with  joy  he  embraces  her.  And  knowijig,  too,  how 
his  fellow    heathens  are   strugiriing   in    the    otherwise   impenetrable 


TIIK  STORY  OF  CHKATTOX.  '2'2'',. 

(iarknoss  thai  eiivclojjes  lliem,  and  !i(tw  llu'y  are  Heokin^  for  ]iu;-ht  on 
the  most  important  of  all  questions,  he  hastens  to  relieve  thorn;  and 
sliall  we  not  bid  liim  Oodsi)eed? 

in  the  early  a^es  of  Christianity,  as  soon  as  the  .lews  saw  that  the 
pattern  of  the  Messiah  of  the  Old  Testament  was  fulfilled  in  .Jesus 
Ohrist,  Ihey  became  His.  So  do  tliey  today;  so  did  the  (Jentih^s 
then,  as  do  the  heathens  now.  Yet  in  Ohristian  lanfls  a  strange 
spectacle  appears.;  many  who  claim  to  believe  botli  testaments,  still 
live  in  sin;   ]iol(iini>-  the  trutli   in  unrighteousness.      (Rrtin.  1  :1S). 


CHAPTER    XVir. 


Our  Lord  says,  ''Lay  not  vip  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth.'" 
(Matt.  6:19).  If  we  es.say  to 'do  so,  nature  herself  shall  rebuke  our 
temerity:  for  there  is  rot  and  decay  in  everythini;;  inanimate  we  pos- 
ses.s  on  earth,  or  can  acquire.  And  a  worm  of  destruction,  even  in 
our  bodies,  and  disease  in  everything  animate,  which  soon  or  late  will 
bring  death  and  decomposition. 

We  have  the  wet  rot  and  the  dry  rot,  to  spoil  and  decompose  our 
vegetables  and  fruits.  In  our  granaries  the  moth  will  come  and  lay 
her  larvEe,  which  plays  havoc  with  the  wheat,  the  barley,  the  rye  and 
the  oats,  threshed  or  imthreshed ;  and  the  Indian  corn,  shucked  or 
unshucked;  and  the  peas  likewise.  And  another  will  deposit  her.s  on 
the  beans,  and  on  the  dried  fruits;  ruin  all  if  precvutions  are  not 
taken  in  time  to  check  their  ravages.  And  another  kind  will  drop 
hers  on  the  meat  that^is  put  away  for  summer  use.  And  yet  another 
for  the  orchard,  to  spoil  the  growing  crop  of  fruit,  to  ilisease  it,  to  rot 
it,  and  often  kills  the  tree  itself,.  All  earthly  possessions  are  uncer- 
tain. Nature,  herself,  forbids  us  to  trust  in  them.  It  is  better  far 
to  trust  in  the  living  God,  who  gives  us,  according  to  that  order  of 
seasons  which  inheres  in  the  constitution  of  our  climate,  ''richly  all 
things  to  enjoy."  (1  Tim.  6  :17).  Or  having  done  each  his  part,  look 
to  our  Father  in  Heaven,  day  by  day.  for  our  l)re;id — or  living;  for 
both  body  and  soul. 

Moreover,  He  says,  "where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt ."  Nol  only 
do  moths  produce  the  cause  of  destruction  in  our  garmenis  and  raw 
material,  but  in  our  grain,  rice  and  fruits;  our  observations  in  na- 
ture confirm  the  teaching  of  the  text.  It  is  a  flying  moth  that  does, 
in  every  case,  the  mischief,  by  depositing  her  young  on  tho.se  things. 

One  writer  says,  "the  weevil  bores  a  hole  in  a  grain  of  wheat  and 
deposits  an  egg.  which  makes  another  weevil,  that  eats  the  heart  out 
of  that  grain  of  wheat.""  I  do  not  think  that  is  correct;  1  think  the 
weevil  gets  to  be  a  flying  moth  before  depositing  any  larvae;  before 
that  time  it  only  eats;  it  is  perfected  by  becoming  a  Hying  moth;  it 
teaches  us  a  lesson,  llevelation  shows  us  that  the  perfection  of  the 
human  being  is  a  winged  stage;  like  unto  the  angels.  (l/uke  'ilh^iti). 
It  is  singular  that  the  (U-eator  chooses  thesmallt^st  things  to  illus- 
trate to  us  the  greatest  lessons.  It  should  huml)le  our  pride.  Per- 
haps it  was  designed  for  that  very  purpose. 

I  have  seen  many  of  the  grain  weevils  in  their  lirst  moving  stage. 
It    is   ihen    like  a  verv  small,    vellowish  worm,   will)   a    blm-U    bend — 


224.  THE  STOEY  OF  OREATTOIS^ 

works  outside  of  the  g-rain.  Next  it  appears  like  a  tiny  beetle — hi-own 
color — still  works  outside  the  grain ;  then  the  sharp-billed  weevil 
which  bores  into  the  grain;  often  covers  himself  in  a  single  grain, 
especially  of  Indian  corn.  In  this  stage  the  wings  are  developed; 
growing  out  from  under  their  sheaths.  1  have  seen  them  flying  with 
short  wings.  When  grown,  the  wings  hang-  down  below  the  body  of 
the  insect.  It  is  now  perfect;  has  nothing  to  do  but  produce  its  lar- 
va? and  provide  for  its  subsistence — then  passes  away. 

The  F>ible,  as  far  back  as  the  time  of  .iob,  speaks  of  the  waste  made 
by  n)oths.  "Wliich  are  crushed  before  the  moth."  (Job  4:19).  This 
alludes  to  man's  weakness;  and  also  to  his  uncertain  hold  upon  his 
earthly  possessions.  As  small  a  thing  as  the  moth  maj'  destroy  hi.s 
wealth,  and  bring  him  to  poverty,  '-(h-ushed  before  the  moth."  In 
some  climates  they  are  worse  than  in  others.  A  few  years  ago  a 
friend  of  mine  had  aljout  100  bushels  of  wheat — housed  before  thresh- 
ing— which  was  almost  ruined  by  the  progeny  of  the  moth  before  he 
knew  it.  A\'hen  he  threshed  it,  it  was  unfit  for  Ijread.  I.  myself, 
was  a  sufferer  the  same  season  from  their  ravages.  1  hud  old  corn  in 
my  barn,  put  my  thi'eshed  wheat  and  threshed  rye  in  there  in  boxes 
and  barrels;  and  my  oats  too — unthreshed — a  large  crop  of  the  oats. 
It  rained  a  great  deal.  I  couldn't  sun  the  threshed  grain  as  soon  as 
I  intended.  I  noticed  .from  day  to  day  in  the  wet  weather  many  flying 
moths  in  and  about  my  barn.  Often  they  would  light  on  the  wash- 
tubs,  which  were  nearby,  and  many  of  them  dropped  into  the  water 
and  died ;  they  appeared  to  be  harmless. 

I  saw  many  small,  yellowish  worms,  with  black  heads,  crawling  on 
top,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  boxes  and  barrels,  whei-e  was  the  threshed 
grain,  but  1  did  not  think  about  them  doing  uny  harm.  When  sunny 
weather  came,  I  went  to  sun  my  wheat  and  found  it  was  badly  infes- 
ted with  weevils.  Many  of  the  sharp-billed  borers,  -many  of  the  tiny, 
beetle  forms — or  a  small  bug  like — not  half  as  large  as  a  grown  wee- 
vil;  of  a  brown  color  and  many  of  them  in  the  worm  stage;  as  I 
had  seen  on  the  outside  of  the  boxes  and  barrels";  and  the  rye  was  as 
badly  infested  as  the  wheat.  I  then  looked  into  the  old  corn.  They 
were  as  bad  there.  Then  into  the  oats.  Though  not  threshed,  they 
were  as  bad  there.  Then  1  thouglit,  though  I  don't  see  a  moth  now, 
yet  they  caused  all  this  mischief.  And  I  thought,  though  a  man,  I 
am  helpless  before  these  little  crealures.   "Crushed  before  the  moth." 

I  sunned  the  threshed  grain — put  up  hot — when  it  lost  that  heat, 
put  it  through  the  same  process  again;  destroyed  many  of  them  by 
that  means.  Perhaps  the  larvae  are  lodged  in  the  crevices  of  the  grain 
and  are  killed  by  that  heat ;   but  the  grown  weevils  are  hard  to  kill. 

As  advised  by  some,  I  piit  sassafras  bushes  in,  all  through  the  corn 
and  oats.  Whether  that  does  any  good  or  not,  I  cannot  tell.  I  used 
Ohiiuir  bushes  also  ;  I  do  not  think  t  hey  are  any  better  than  .sassafras. 
The  best  way  is  to  grind  and  use  the  bread  as  fast  as  you  need  to; 
and  feed  away  the  rest  as  fast  as  it  is  needed;  then  starve  out  what 
are  left ;   and  the  rats  will  all  quit  you  then,  too. 

In  Is.  51 :8,  we  read  of  the  destruction  made  in  goods  and  raw  ma- 
terial by  moths  and  worms.  T  suppose  the  worm  alluded  to  is  the 
the  offspring  f)f  the  motli.     No  doubt  but   they   infested   their  grain 


THE  STORY  OF  ORKATTON.  'i-i.). 

and  frnitB  then  as  tlicy  do  ours  ikuv,  ;is  woU.  as  other  <j;oo(ls.  Tho 
reforenoe,  doubtless,  is  to  all  the  niisdiit'l'  they  do.  Kspeeiaily  is  it 
true  in  resjard  to  Matt.  (5:19. 

Of  course  the  rust  will  corrode,  atid  the  canker  will  consume  specie 
and  ornaments,  and  overj'thin*!,-  else  made  of  metallic  substances.  As 
in  James  i):'2'i;  but  in  J^uke  12:16-21,  the  treasures  were  the  product 
of  the  field  of  the  earth  l)y  culture.  Here  the  owner  is  separated 
from  them  suddenly.  Yet  if  he  had  lived  he  would  have  been  disap- 
pointed in  them,  would  have  seen  the  foolishness  of  trnstin!;-in  them. 

There  was  a  certain  rich  man  who  had  about  150  bushels  of  cleaned 
wheat  in  his  barn;  his  neiyhbors  offered  him  $1.50  per  bushel  for  it 
for  brearl,  but  he  refused  to  sell  a  bushel,  sayin"-  my  ci-o])  may  fail 
this  year  and  [  mli;ht  need  it  iriyself  next  year.  Tt  was  laid  uj)  f(n' 
himself. 

HefoKe  the  next  was  ready  for  the  table  the  old  was  well  niiih 
ruined  by  the  weevil.  "Crushed  before  the  moth."  It  made  me 
think  of  the  proverb,  He  that  wit hholdeth  corn,  the  people  shall 
curse  him  ;  but  blessint;;  shall  be  u|)on  the  head  of  him  that  selleth  it." 
(Proverbs  11  :2(3.)  And  how  much  rather  upon  him  who  i>:iveth  it  away 
to  those  that  (iannot  pay  for  it.  And  thus  are  treasures  laid  up  in 
Heaven.  Beyond  the  reach  of  all  these,  'A\'here  neitlu^r  moth  nor 
rust  doth  corrupt." 

The  worm  that  causes  destruction  is  in  our  hou-s,  cows,  sheep. 
j»'oats,  mules,  horses  and  fowls,  and  in  our  own  bodies  too,  causin>r 
disease  and  death  soon  or  late,  perhaps  the  worm  that  shall  feed  up>)n 
them  in  the  2:rave  is  now  workini^  in  them. 

Ft  is  hard  to  tind  a  sinirh-  tliiiiii;  that  is  really  sound — without  any 
defects — in  this  world.  It  is  the  curse  and  its  work,  that  followed 
sin,  and  still  follows  sin,  (ien.  8 :17-19,  Romans  5:12,  Everything: 
was  perfect  after  its  kind  at  first  and  perfect  for  its  use.  before  "sin 
entered  into  the  world.'"'  But  after  that  sad  event  everythin<i:  on 
earth  partook  of  man's  imperfection  out  of  sympathy  for  him.  He 
was  creation's  cem  re.  U'hcn  he  fell  the  shock  v/as  felt  al!  around 
the  circumference. 

But  perfection  is  somewhere.  She  Hed  the  earth  when  man  sinned. 
Nevertheless  she  shall  yer  be  found.  For  we  read  of  a  idacc  where 
are  "the  spirits  of  just  men  made  p(>rfect."  (Heb.  12:2-}).  There  is 
that  perfection  for  which  redecMued  iiat  ui'e  si^^-lis.  It  is  in  Heaven, 
and  there  alone.  Let  us  prepare  for  it,  and  for  the  ijerfeclion  of  our 
hein-.     (Matthew  i^-.m). 

f  have  sometiihes  watclu^l  a  worm  which  was  tau'.;'ht  of  Providence 
throui^h  instinct  that  the  the  tiiru'  had  <'ome  for  him  to  prejian^  for 
his  chanire.  He  will  attach  himsi'lf  to  !i  twiL'  on  some  kind  of  plant, 
and  ti:lue  hiniseif  to  that  twiyso  securely  thai  the  wiiid  can  hardly 
shaK'.e  him  oiV.  lie  will  weave  him  a  web  or  cocoon  to  protect  him- 
self ayainst  the  chanii'es  of  the  w<!ather  and  all  other  disadvanta.ii'cs. 
There  he  will  swine:  until  the  time  comes  for  his  lU'xt  chi!n.t:;e.  Then 
he  will  come  out  in  a  new  dress.  And  you  would  scarcely  thiid<  that, 
that  b(>autiful  butterfly  you  see  Hittiufr  from  flower  1ollov,er.  was 
ever  an  u<;lv  worm  crawling;'  on  the  Li'mnnd,  while  yoii    were  afraid  to 


220.  THE  STORY  OF  CptEATION. 

touch  him  for  fear  l;e-would  st.iii<,'  you,  l)ut  now  you  would  like  to 
handle  that  pretty  butterfly.     You  are  not  at  all  afraid  of  hiai. 

So  we  are  now  as  worms  crawling  on  the  earth.  Here  we  have  to 
toil  throuft-h  the  summer's  heat  for  our  winter  supplies,  often  uneasy 
for  fear  we  will  not  have  enoujjh,  afflicted,  too,  with  more  than  one 
mortal  disease  that  is  hurrying  us  to  the  grave.  But  after  a  while 
we  will  cmne  out  in  a  new  dress.  We  will  break  this  chrysalis  and 
•fly  away  to  Heaven.  If  prepared  to  enter  there,  we  shall  not  know 
winter  from  summer.  .'Vnd  those  who  may  meet  us  there  would 
hardly  thiidc  we  had  been  such  poor  creatures  here.  And  tlds  mighty 
change  shall  be  wrought  in  us  for  Christ's  sake.  We  shall  be  exalted 
to  that  high  and  blessed  state  not  for  any  good  in  us.  nor  for  any 
good  we  have  done,  but  for  for  His  sake  who  loved  lis  and  washed  us 
ill  His  own  ])recious  blood,  who  redeemed  us  to  glory  and  to  (rod. 
We  shall  l)e  seated  only  upon  His  merits. 

And  shall  we  know  each  other  there?  How  could  we  fail  to  know 
one  another  there?  \\'e  will  be  obliged  to  know  there  those  we  know 
here.  Tiiough  they  will  not  be  known  as  husband  and  wife  any  more 
after  soul  and  I)ody  are  separated  here,  (Luke  20:;U-5ir)),  nor  as  par- 
PUts  and  children,  in  an  earthly  sense.  But  will  have  all  the  spirit- 
ual affinities  which  belong  to  and  grow  out  of  those  relations  on  earth. 

All  those  historic  characters  we  have  read  of  in  the  Scriptures  we 
will  intuitively  recognize,  and  above  all,  with  full  knowledge,  will  at 
'once  know  the  Son  of  (rofl,  our  Saviour,  tlu^  centre  of  attraction  to 
:dl  thie  redeemed. 

And  Ihe  famous  ones,  of  both  sexes,  in  all  history  we  have  read  of, 
will  be  intuitively  recognized  by  us.  We  will  need  no  introduclion. 
A  few  in  every  generation  have  been  so  distinguished  as  to  live  in 
history,  while  the  great  bulk  of  them  have  gone  -'the  way  of  all  the 
earth"  wiliioul  so  much  as  leaving  their  names  for  the  historian. 
But  many  who  have  moved  in  the  world  of  fame,  as  artists,  profes- 
sors in  medicine,  law,  science,  philosophy,  statesnumship  and  mighty 
warriors  whose  careers  we  have  followed  with  sympathy — and  other 
great  ones  of  l)oth  sexes,  may  appear  among  the  lost. 

And  nuiny  an  one  that  moved  as  a  beau  ideal,  or  a  very  queen  in 
society,  witii  trains  of  admiring  followers,  may  be  seen  in  the  host  of 
lost  -louls;  wliile  many  will  re<'ognize  them  witli  wonder,  and  think, 
what  a  pity  an  intellect  so  brilliant,  a  genius  s')  happy  should  thus 
suffer  I 

But  alas!  The  most  brilliant  intellect  may  err:  and  genius  most 
hapijy  may  be  put  to  sinful  purposes!  And  they  shall  suffer  for  it, 
both  here,  and  hereafter. 

Tlie  question  is  asked,  "'Who  knoweth  the  spirit  of  man  that  goeth 
upward,  and  the  spirit  of  the  beast  that  goeth  downward  to  the 
earth?"  (Keel.  iJ:21).  That  is  of  mankind,  and  of  beasts  in  general. 
J  suppose  the  meaning  is,  although  tiiere  is  that  in  beast  which  an- 
swers to  spirit  in  man,  yet  it  is  not  an  individuality  that  can  exist 
v.ithont  the  body,  but  perishes  with  the  body.  While  the  spirit  of 
man  <-an,  and  does  exist  sepai'ated  from  the  body;  ascends  to  (xod ; 
is  r('w;irded  or  punished   without   the   body;   is   immortal.     But   the 


THE  STORY  OF  OREATION.  227. 

resuiTootion  will  onlianco  thf  fflicily  of  llu-  saved,  and  iiileiisirv  t!ic 
misorios  of  tin-  ilaniniHl. 

I  suppose  tiio  whoreforo  of  the  Healheiis'  woi-sliiji  ol'  animals  was 
Ix'ftuise  they  thou irlit  1  lie  .spirits  of  their  departed  ureal  ones  went 
into  animals,  and  aslliey  had  done  miu'lity  dec^ds  for  ihem  Ix'fore 
tliey  died,  they  mit^ht  do  more  now.  Thei-efori'.  they  (h-ified  tlie 
heasts  for  that.  It  shows,  too,  that  belief  in  the  immortality  of 
human  spirits,  is  natural,  and  universal  in  mankind. 

The  devil  blinded  them  to  lead  them  inli)  any  and  every  form  of 
idolatry;  as  he  does  some  fanatics  now,  in  Christian  lands  at  that,  to 
offer  prayers  to  real  or  supposed  saints  in  Heaven,  supposino;-  that  they 
ean  answer  prayer;  not  having-  knowled^'e  enou^'h  to  see  that  is  idol- 
atry;  and  to  see  that  all  ereature  worsliip  is  nothin<;  but  idolatry. 

Another  text,  in  statins:  the  death  of  a  man  says,  '"In  that  very  day 
his  thoughts  perish."  in  the  margin  of  the  R.  V.,  purpose.s,  for 
thoughts.  fPs.  1-46:4).  His  worldly  ambitions,  ])rojects  and  p\nhH 
die  with  him,  I  suppose,  is  the  meaning.  As  I  once  heard  a  preacher 
say  in  a  sermon,  ''many  a  book  has  failed  to  be  written  because  the 
author  died  too  soon."  Those  thoughts,  however  good,  were  lost  to 
tlie  world,  \mless  Providenee  leads  some  one  else  to  think,  and  preserve 
them  for  posterity. 

While  all  of  man's  mental,  moral  and  Sinritual  faculties  shall  live, 
for  they  are  essential  to  tbe  nature  of  his  soul,  and  with  the  soul,  are 
immortal;  are  God  given  ;  and  God  returning.  (Eecl.  12  :()7).  Then 
in  view  of  a  future  existence,  should  we  not  lay  up  for  it?  And  should 
we  not  rather  lay  up  treasures  where  moth  and  rust  dot  h  not  corrupt , 
than  where  they  do?  Even  human  wisdom  dictates  to  take  that  which 
lasts  the  longest,  when  the  price  is  the  same ;  and  often  when  it  is 
more.  There  is  in  enlightened  man,  either  natural  or  acquired 
acquisitiveness,  in  regard  to  this  world's  goods,  and  the  more  enlight- 
ened they  are,  the  more  industrious  will  they  he  in  re;;ard  to  laying 
up  treasures  in  Heaven.  And  as  the  worm  which  works  corru))!  ion 
in  all  earthly  goods  is  the  better  understood  by  them,  the  more  will 
they  let  go  these  and  set  their  affeciion  on  tilings  above;  an<l  the 
more  careful  will  they  be  as  they  remember  He  sayeth.  "Where  your 
treasure  is,  there  will  your  heart  be  also."  The  more  heavenly  treas- 
ure we  have,  the  more  will  our  hearts  and  minds  dwell,  as  it  were,  in 
Heaven,  though  our  bodies  are  yet  on  earth. 

.ioseph  laid  up  grain  in  Egypt  that  kept  well  for  seven  years:  but 
it  will  not  so  keep  in  tliis  climate.  If  the  ijerm  of  the  wiM-vil  is  laid 
on  it  in  the  field,  encased  in  il  as  the  gr:iin  fo'rms,  and  if  though  sun- 
ning kills  them,  yet  in  time  of  wet  weather  the  moths  may  attack  it 
again,  <o  I  think-;  and  unless  it  is  sunned  again,  weevils  will  g(Mier- 
ate  in  it . 

l\  is  a  fact  tliat  a  man  can  keep  in  this  dimale  Indian  corn  in  good 
condition  a,  year  from  its  maturity:  but  if  kept  muc'i  longer  than 
that,  the  moth  will  corrupt  it.  So  nal  ore  t  eaejies  ns  here.  Ihat,  as 
does  the  P>ible,  to  trust  in  the  living  of  (iod,  which  lie  gives  us  no! 
less  frequently  than  a  year  a(  atimr;  and  that  as  a  result  of  our 
own  ert'orts.     That  is  the  best  way  to  prepare  our  daily  bread. 

1    once  tried    to    prrivide    gi-ain,     in  t  his  count  ry.  two    years  at     the 


2'-:!o.  THE  STOTJY  OF  CREATION. 

time;  but  experieiu-e  tau<4-ht  me  tiiat  it  would  not  do.  For  while 
rogues  did  not  steal  any,  "as  I  know  of,"  the  rats  rained  some,  and 
the  weevils  the  rest,  after  it  was  a  year  old  ;  so  It  was  not  fit  for  bread, 
and  jDOor  feed  for  anything-  else.  I  think  it  is  l)cst  to  go  according  to 
Providence,  and  our  climate. 

The  manna  gathered  in  disobedience  or  laifi  up  against  orders,  bred 
worms.  (Ex.  16:'20)  Whether  a  moth  laid  tlie  egos  that  produced 
the  worms  in  the  mannn  unlawfully  kept,  or  a  curse  directly  on  it 
from  Clod,  we  are  not  informed;  but  there  is  a  curse  in  everythinir 
unlawfnlly  got:  or  unlawfully  kept.  The  gains  of  Sabbath  breaking 
bring  7uany  curses  upon  all  connected  with  it.  Xo  doubt  our  whole 
C()U)itry  lias  suffered  much  by  the  Sabbath  breaking  of  only  a  part  of 
the  people.  If  sin  is  not  contagious,  the  curse  will  spread.  (Num. 
]()  :4-()-r)(),  1  C-hi'nn.  21  :7-14-).  In  this  last^  case  it  was  tlie  government 
that  sinned  ;  and  all  tlie  people  had  t(^  pay  for  it .  So  afterwards  they 
all  suffered  on  account  of  Solomon's  wickedness  ;  and  yet  other  exam- 
ples might  be  quoted. 

When  a  boj-  I  wondered  how  the  worms  got  into  the  hickory  nuts, 
chincapins  and  chestnuts,  as  I  could  not  see  where  they  went  in  at. 
My  conclusion  was  that  the  parent  of  them  must  have  hiid  the  eggs 
on  the  l)loom  or  tender  fruit  and  they  were  inclosed  as  the  niit  grevr. 
I  wondered,  too,  how  they  could  get  into  the  apples,  peaches  and  all 
our  fruits  as  no  place  could  be  seen  where  they  went  in  at.  I  thought 
tlie  eggs  luust  have  been  laid  either  in  the  bloom  or  on  the  young 
fruit  and  were  enclosed  as  the  fruit  grew.  And  I  also  studied  as  to 
how  worms  got  into  the  roasting  ears,  and  my  conclusion  was  the 
san)e  in  regard  to  them.  I  applied  the  same  reasoning  to  their  presence 
in  lield  peas  and  in  grain.  I  concluded  they  must  have  been  laid  in  the 
bloom  or  on  the  very  young  grain  and  embraced  in  it  as  it  formed. 

I  believe  my  lirst  thoughts  as  to  how  they  gel  into  these  ;ire  as 
correct  as  any  I  have  ever  seen  on  the  subj<M-t.  I  know  field  peas 
gathered  iii  the  month  of  October,  in  this  country,  cleaned  at  once, 
often  hnve  weevils  in  them,  when  no  outward  signs  appear  of  their 
ent  r.'ince  int')  the  lull!  or  pea.  In  the  stale  of  Florida  1  have  seen 
Indian  coi-n  gp.thered  in  the  month  of  August  and  iit  every  hill  would 
be  seen  a  number  of  flying  weevils,  already  in  the  corn,  at  v.'ork  in 
some'way. 

These  facts  sh.ow  that^  in  many  cases  they  are  generated  in  the 
field.  Vet  under  some  circumstances  I  think  Wv.^y  are  generated 
after  the  grain  is  housed.  They  are  more  numerous  in  peas  at  plant- 
ing lime — May  or  June— ^than  before.  So  are  they  worse  in  old  grain 
than  new. 

If  a  man  has  corn  in  a  barrel  or  box,  covered,  he  can  lift  the  cover 
so  as  to  dash  water  on  the  weevils,  then  he  can  kill  all  in  there,  for 
They  can't  fly  when' v.'et,  nor  crawl  much  either.  Water  alone  will 
not  kill  'em,  but  wet  salt  will. 

ft  would  lie-well  when  corn  is  housed  to  dampen  every  load  with, 
siilty  water.  That  might,  perhaps,  destroy  the  germs,  or  keep  oif 
tie'  moth,  if  not  it'  will  im.prove  the  shuck  as  feed. 

Now  let  us  repeat  the  text,  and  remember  it,  too,  'Lay  not  uj:)  for 
yourselves  trcsasiires  upoii  earth,  where  moth  and  rust    doth  corrupt. 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  221). 

and  where  lliicvos  break  througli  and  steal  :  but  lay  up  for  yourselves 
Irefisures  in  lieaven,  where  neither  nioih  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and 
where  thieves  do  uot  break  throuyli  nor  steal:  for  where  your  treas- 
ure is,  there  will  your  heart  be  also."  Xor  can  Janj^uaije  express  it 
better.  The  anatomist  might  say,  I  have  dissected  many  a  corpse  and 
have  never  seen  a  soul  in  any  of  them  yet.  But  that  shell,  now  cast  ofl, 
sliows  that  the  soul,  tlie  livin»  man,  was  in  this  world.  The  Bibh^ 
teaches  that  the  wicked  is  removed  and  his  place  cannot  be  found. 
Xor  is  the  rij^hteous  more  fortunate  as  to  that. 

No  dissecter  can  find  the  place  where  the  soul  dwelt  in  the  bo<ly. 
But  it  was  in  all  and  in  every  part  of  the  body.  Was  its  sensibility, 
Its  life  and  power. 

I  have  seen  many  a  locust  shell  stickino;  to  the  bark  of  a  tree,  but 
never  saw  a  locust  in  one  of  them  yet.  But  that  shell  is  proof  that 
the  locust  was  there.  He  was  in  all,  and  in  every  part  of  it.  The 
head,  body,  limbs,  feet  and  its  claws  were  occupied  by  the  dilfei*ent 
members  of  the  livinj^:  locust  that  has  flown  away  and  left  it.  So  the 
body  of  a  man  is  evidence  that  w-e  had  the  man  amoncf  us  but  he  has 
now  gone  elsewhere.  The  corpse  shows  that  the  living  man  was 
here,  but  now  he  is  elsewhere  gone,  as  have  the  garments  he  once  wore 
and  now  laid  aside  because  too  badly  worn,  or  perchance,  out  of 
style,  though  not  more  than  in  the  middle  of  their  usefulness,  and 
only  for  that  cast  off.  So  now  he  leaves  off  his  body  because  it  is 
badly  worn,  or  out  of  style  for  him  any  longer,  or  never  was  in  style 
where  he  is  now  going. 

Some  things  will  do  to  wear  at  home  that  will  not  do  to  wear 
abroad,  some  will  do  to  wear  in  the  country  that  will  not  do  to  wear 
in  a  city,  so  now  he  leaves  behind  all  that  will  not  be  useful  to  him 
where  he  is  going,  and  takes  only  that  which  will  be  current  there. 

1  iiave  seen  the  hole  in  the  ground  from  which  the  locust  came  out; 
many  of  them  under  the  same  tree.  So  the  inspired  prophet .  speak- 
ing in  the  name  of  the  P\ither  of  u.s^  alj^admonishes  us  to  "look  unto 
the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  ye  are  digged."  (Isaiah  51:1)  And  in 
another  we  are  admonished  to  look  unto  that  pit  to  which  we  as  to 
our  bodies  sliall  return.  CIsaiah  558  :17-18.)  And  also  to  that  deeper 
pit  whither  the  soid  unprepared  for  heaven  shall  go.  It  is  well  for 
ail  the  living  to  consider  these  three  things  and  that  betimes. 

You  may  take  a  living  chrysalis  and  you  cannot  so  separate  it  from 
its  outer  part  so  as  to  say  this  is  it,  and  that  is  only  its  outer  cloth- 
ing, for  the  living  creature  is  in  every  part  of  it.  I  have  noticed 
many  of  them  of  different  insects.  Sometimes  have  plowed  or  dug 
them  up  out  of  the  ground  ;  sometimes  have  seen  them  swiir^ing  t;0 
limbs  of  bushes,  often  on  branches  of  the  cotton  stalk,  and  all  of 
them  at  first  seem  to  be  feelingless;  hut  touch  one  and  you  will  see 
it  is  alive  through  and  through.  .\nd  as  one  who  has  not  seen  the 
whole  process  the  creature  goes  through  before  it  comes  to  its  perfec- 
tion, could  not  form  any  idea  from  this  stage  of  its  life  what  will  be  its 
next  form  of  existence;  so  no  one  can  tell  from  these  bodies  of  ours 
what  our  future  state  of  being  shall  be.  As  t  he  Scrijituresays,  "It  doth 
not  yet  appear  what  weshallbe."  (1  John  Ji  :2).  As  with  the  chrysalis 
while  he  is  alive  you  cannot  in  that  si  aire  of  his  bcni'jf  seiyarntc  the  living 


28U.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

creature  from  that  he  heaves  behind  when  he  is  gone  ;  so  it  is  with  the 
living  body  of  a  human  being  and  its  soul  while  in  this  world. 

And  as  every  part  of  the  chrysalis  is  impregnated  with  life  until 
that  change  comes  which  sends  the  surviving  part  out  into  a  differ- 
ent state  of  existence  and  leaves  its  now  useless  part  behind;  so  it  is 
witli  man  in  his  present  life.  It  takes  both  the  soul  and  its  body 
now  to  make  the  one  person — a  human  being. 

As  the  surviving  part  of  the,  chrysalis  was  in  every  part  of  the  out- 
ward form  wliile  he  occupied  it,  so  is  the  soul  of  a  human  being 
while  in  its  body  on  earth.  It  is  the  life — the  motion  and  powers  of 
the  body.  And  when  the  time  comes  the  soul — that  only  which  shall 
be  useful  somewhere  in  a  higher  sphere — shall  survive,  be  separated 
for  that  purpose,  and  the  place  it  occupied  in  the  body  cannot  be 
found,  for  it  equally  filled  and  used  it  all,  possessed  it  all;  for  its 
own  interest  cared  for  it  all;  drew  comfort  to  itself  from  every  part 
of  it;  and  if  true  to  its  mission  in  this  world,  used  every  part  of  it  in 
the  service  of  Him  who  gave  it;  and  in  whose  august  presence  shall 
answer  for  its  good  or  evil  uses  while  in  this  world. 

From  the  silent  examples  of  these  speechless  creatures  we  may  not 
only  learn  wisdom  in  our  secular  affairs,  but  may  also  learn  from  that 
providence  which  is  in  them  before  our  eyes — at  least  to  all  those 
who  will  take  the  pains  to  see — some  idea  of  the  process  of  that 
change  each  of  us  is  to  go  through  to  reach  the  perfection  of  our  being. 

At  least  we  have  many  beautiful  illustrations  of  the  process  of  our 
own  change  in  nature  all  around  us.  It  seems  that  even  the  wicked 
could  but  be  thankful  for  it,  and  take  heed  to  the  abundant  instruc- 
tion His  providence  gives  us  in  them,  to  say  nothing  of  the  far  more 
and  better  instruction  He  gives  us  in  His  written  Word. 
Then  let  them  publish  it  all  abroad, 
That  our  Creator  is  the  Lord. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


We  are  taught  in  2  Tim.  1:10  that  Christ  "abolished  death  and 
brought  life  and  immortality  to  light."  The  idea  is  that  life  and 
immortality  existed  before,  but  through  the  gosp(d  are  now  unveiled. 

Now,  if  we  should  suppose  that  the  world  had  to  wait  for  the  Gospel 
until  angels  sang  it  over  "the  hill  country  of  Judah,"  we  would  "err 
not  knowing  the  Scriptures."  (Matt.  22:29).  For  it  is  written  unto 
them — the  Israelites  in  Egypt  and  in  the  wilderness — "was  the  Gos- 
pel preached,  as  well  as  unto  us."  (Heb.  4:2).  Again,  "The  Scrip- 
ture, foreseeing  thar  God  would  justify  the  heathen  through  faith, 
preached  before  the  gospel  unto  Abraham."  (Gal.  8:8).  Saying, 
"In  thy  seed" — which  is  Christ — "shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
l)e  blessed."     (Gen.  22:18). 

When  then  did  the  gospel  begin?  When  man  fell.  Which  was  the 
first  time  it  was  needed,  but  not  before.  It  could  not  begin  before 
sin  began.  As  soon  as  sin  entered  into  the  world  there  was  a  demand 
for  the  gospel,  and  it  then  entei'ed  on  the  track  of  sin,  to  destroy  it 
and  its  effects.  When  Eve  and  Adam  sinned  life  and  immortality,  as 
applying  to  mankind,  were  forfeited.  As  sinners  they  could  see  nothing, 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  inn. 

as  yet,  but  the  penalties  of  sin,  which  were  to  result  in  deatli,  and 
must  have  meant  the  destruction  of  bein<^.  At  least,  dissolution  of 
soul  and  body,  and  eternal  banishment  of  the  soul  from  heaven  and 
God — with  the  devil  and  his  anjjels  to  dwell  without  hope  of  deliver- 
ance— while  the  body  should  lie  in  ruins  forever  and  ever.  Or  as 
with  those  who  now  sin  willfully  "a  certain  fearful  looking  for  of 
judjjment  and  fiery  indiji^nation,  which  shall  devour  the  adversaries." 
(Heb.  10:27).  For  ''it  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die,  but  after 
this  the  jud<;ment."  (Heb.  9:27).  But  when  Christ  undertook  for 
human  kind  He  removed  the  dark  shadow  of  death,  which  was  set- 
tling like  a  pall  over  every  hope  of  man.  And  by  virtue  of  what  He 
was  to  do  for  the  race,  Adam  was  permitted  to  live  in  this  world  until 
his  OyOth  year  expired;  and  "his  helpmeet^'  quite  as  long,  no  doubt. 

Thus,  through  Christ  and  His  gospel,  embodied  in  that  glorious 
revelation,  the  seed  of  the  woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head, 
(Gen.  8  :15),  natural  life  was  restored  from  under  that  dreadful  sen- 
tence, by  the  respite  allowed  them,  and  immortality,  through  the 
promise  of  God,  was  revealed  as  the  heritas-e  of  their  redeemed 
natures.  And  death,  too,  was  in  the  hands  of  the  great  undertaker, 
and  was  to  be  buried  in  a  hell,  deeper  than  the  grave.     (Rev.  20:14). 

It  was  virtually  abolished  in  the  Son  of  God  before  Adam  left  the 
garden  of  Eden.  And  although  henceforth  denied  that  first  tree  of 
life,  he  has  a  second  in  the  gospel  of  Christ.  (Rev.  22:2).  And  while 
the  flaming  sword  of  justice  debarred  him  from  the  first,  mercj' 
cheered  him  on  with  an  ever  brightening  hope  to  the  second.  For  by 
the  present  natural  life  in  mercy  granted  them,  and  the  then  present 
salvation  through  grace  given  them,  there  was  revealed  to  them  a 
glorious  immortality  for  their  souls  and  bodies  through  the  gospel  of 
("hrist,  which  was,  and  is,  for  all  the  ages  of  mankind.  For  as  sin  and 
death  came  througli  the  first  Adam,  so  life  and  imvnortality — death 
dethroned  and  abolished — came  through  the  second  Adam,  which  is 
Jesus  Christ.  (1  Cor.  IT):  15).  And  its  effects  began  like  the  first  at 
the  head  of  the  race.  As  Adam  and  Eve  were  the  first  lost,  so  were 
they  the  first  saved. 

A  certain  writer  represents  a  heathen  philosophixing  as  to  wIumi 
religion  began.  He  did  very  well  for  a  heathen,  but  so  far  as  this 
world  is  concerned,  religion  began  when  God  created  man.  Then  l)e- 
gan  human  history  too;  and  civilization  also.  All  of  which  both  yon 
and  I  should  know.  Angels  doubtless  worshipped  God  before  man  was 
created.  "And  when  He  again  bringeth  in  the  firstborn  into  the  world 
He  saith,  "And  let  all  the  angels  of  Gad  worship  him."'  (R.  V.  Heb. 
1  -.Ci).  It  seems  then  that  they  had,  as  a  second  commandment,  orders 
to  worship  the  Son  in  his  humanity,  which  embraced  all  tlie  ranks  of 
heaven — angels,  as  well  as  redeemed  from  the  earth. 

The  Christian  religion — which  is  the  religion  of  redeini)lion  in 
Christ  Jesus — began  when  the  first  hope  of  pardon  was  held  out  to 
man.  Eve  and  Adam  were  the  first' that  sinned,  the  first  that 
repented,  the  first  forgiven.  The  gospel  of  mercy  was  fi<-st  preached 
to  them — the  first  of  sinners — in  tlie  first  promise  of  victory  given  to 
a    sinner,  atii]    that   tlirouuh   another   rather   than    hiiiisclr.  and    thiil 


2;t2.  THE  STORY  OF  CREATION. 

other  was  Clirist.  The  fh'st  horn  into  this  world  were  of  those  who  liad 
sinned,  who  had  repented,  who  were  pardoned,  wlio  were  regenerate. 

Here  tlien  was  the  first  bejyinning  of  tlie  gospel,  its  first  fruits,  its 
first  victory  over  the  fear  of  death  and  the  grave,  its  first  triumph 
over  the  serpent.  Yes,  Adam  and  Eve  were  the  first  to  behold  the 
banner  of  immortality  afloat  over  death. 

If  we  should  suppose  that  it  was  not  until  Christ  expired  and  rose 
from  the  dead  that  life  and  immortality  were  brought  to  liirht  by  the 
gospel,  we  would  err  indeed,  "not  knowing  the  Scriptures.''  For 
they  teacli  the  contrary  of  that;.  It  was  realized  by  Abel,  Enoch  and 
Noah,  and  doubtless,  by  Adam  and  Eve.  of  course,  though  the^text 
does  not  positively  so  state.  And  to  all  tlie  saints  of  old,  no  doubt, 
wlio  wailed  on  vhe  promise  of  deliverance  from  sin  and  it^^curse.   -x 

CHAl'TER  XTX. 

KPIUWUE. 

Ti-iKRK  never  has  been  a  human  being  unfolded  into  this  world. 
They  all,  except  two,  Adam  and  Eve,  liave  come  by  generation  from 
parents;  have  been  born  into  this  world.  As  the  Scriptures  say,  "a 
man  is  born  into  the  world."     (.John  16:21). 

Never  was  there  a  horse  unfolded  into  tliis  world.  They  have  all 
come  by  generation,  except  those  created  at  first;  and  mules  came 
by  unnatural  generation  between  horses  and  asses.  The  Bible  does 
not  mention  any  mules  nor  apes  as  being  created.  "\Ve  know  how 
mides  came,  and  how  mulattoes  came,  and  by  parity  of  reasoning, 
the  apes  may  have  come  by  a  cross  between  depraved,  wretched,  sav- 
age human  beings  and  beasts.  A  thing,  or  practice,  which  did  once 
exist,  for  tho  Lord  so  declares,  and  forbids  it. 

If  to  get  to  their  strategic  point,  the  Darwins  liave  to  reverse  all 
nature,  and  then  fail ;  for  the  only  fact  of  a  sub-species  being  intro- 
duced, between  the  besotted  Africans  and  beasts,  perhaps — the  ape 
species — for  this  is  the  only  sub-species,  if  it  be  one,  that  has  yet 
been  found  ;  all  the  others  they  write  about  are  only  supposed  to  have 
been — what  becomes  of  their  evolutionary  chain  of  being? 

Never  was  there  a  cow,  nor  sheep,  nor  any  other  animal  unfolded 
into  this  woi'ld.  They  have  all,  except  the  first,  descended  by  genera- 
ation  from  those  of  the  same  kinds  which  lived  before  them.  We  know 
how  dogs  and  cats,  and  rats  came.  And  all  other  animals,  from  the  least 
to  the  greatest,  came  in  the  same  way — by  generation  from  others  of 
the  same  species.  Even  all  through  the  insect  world,  they  came  by 
descent  from  the  same  species  before  them.  Tlie  Creator  Himself, 
stocked  the  world  after  the  flood  by  generation,  instead  of  creation. 
Since  creation  this  has  been  the  one  method,  and  everybody  knows  it. 

It  is  true  that  some  naturalists  claim  that  some  of  the  lowest  forms 
of  animal  life,  in  certain  waters,  can  be  multiplied  by  buds  and  grafts 
from  the  parent  stocks,  as  certain  vegetables,  but  the  blood,  or  sap, 
takes  in  all  such,  the  place  of  the  seed  ofgeneration.  Bat  other  nat- 
uriilists  affirm  thtif  no  man  can  tell  where  tlie  animiil  kingdom  ends, 
and  define  where  f  he  vegetable  kingdom  begins;   because  the  lines  of 


THE  STORY  OF  CREATION.  2m. 

resoniblance  are  so  close  in  some  that  they  seem  to  partake  of  both 
kingdoms  ;  so  much  so,  that  they  do  not  know  in  which  to  class  them. 
Therefore,  those  that  can  be  propagated  by  slips  may  be  only  vegeta- 
bles. If  not,  it  cannot  affect  the  truth  of  generation,  as  we  showed 
before,  for  the  same  species  are  preserved  in  them  all.  But  the  fact 
of  this  close  resemblance  of  the  two  great  divisions  of  nature  in  their 
laws  and  natures,  proves,  so  far  at  least  as  I  said  before,  that  nature 
is  a  unity.     The  Creator  is  one.     Nature — His  creation — is  one. 

However  vast  this  great  expanse  all  around  us,  bestud  with  shin- 
ing worlds,  yet  the  nature  and  the  characteristics  of  everything  in  it 
bears  as  much  resemblance  to  every  other  one  as  do  the  children  of  a 
common  parent;  and  is  in  high  evidence  of  what  the 'Bible  claims, 
and  all  nature  tacitly  affirms  day  and  night  as  in  uttered  speech  the 
whole  earth  around,  that  God  is  the  Creator  of  them  all.  (Ps.  19  :1-11). 
In  other  words,  the  principle  and  the  fact  of  epi-genesis  runs 
through  the  whole  of  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms,  so  that  as 
the  Bible  and  nature  both  teach  us,  God,  who  was  the  Creator  of  all 
the  first  generation  in  both  kingdoms,  is  also  the  Creator  and  Maker 
of  all  and  of  every  one  in  each  successive  generations  in  both  king- 
doms. As  it  is  written,  "He  giveth  it  a  body  as  it  has  pleased  him.  and 
to  every  seed" — of  animal  or  vegetable — "his  own  body.  '  (1  Cor. 
15:38-39-40).     A  thought  on  the  seeds  of  plants  will  illustrate  it. 

Now  let  any  man  think  he  can  see  that  syn-genesis  is  not  true  in 
grain  of  any  kind,  nor  in  cotton,  nor  in  flax,  nor  in  anything  else 
which  farmers  handle.  He  is  obliged  to  see  that  every  year  produces 
its  own  crop  of  seeds  of  all  kinds.  It  demonstrates  before  his  eyes 
that  the  theory  of  some  evolutionists  called  syn-genesis  is  not  true. 
And  it  is  just  as  iintrue  in  all  the  animal  kingdom. 

Every  one  springs  out  of  an  individual  germ  from  its  immediate 
parents  and  is  the  latest  copy  of  nature  from  that  source ;  which 
gives  it  distinct  individuality.  But  no  infant  is  unfolded  into  a 
matured  man — a  fully  developed  being  of  either  sex — but  grows  into 
that  state  if  not  interrupted.  No  calf,  nor  lamb,  nor  pig.  nor  colt, 
nor  fawn  is  unfolded  into  adult  state,  but  grows  into  it  if  the  natural 
course  of  nature  is  not  prevented.  So  in  corn,  "first  the  blade,  then 
the  ear,  after  that  the  full  corn  in  the  ear."  (Mark  4:28).  And  just 
so  with  everything  that  grows.     It  is  nature's  law  of  development. 

Such  are  the  silent  lessons  of  nature  all  about  us,  as  in  the  Word 
of  God  plainly  writ.  And  if  Christian  scholars  should  yield  any  part 
of  Bible  ground  to  the  enemy  the  rest  would  be  less  easy  to  defend  ; 
but  if  all  is  held  as  the  Divine  Autlior  has  given  it  to  us,  every  part 
of  it  is  easily  defended. 

Now  let  the  critics  stop  a  bit. 

To  consider  the  teachings  of  Holy  Writ  ; 

Then  they  will  face  about, 

And  admit  the  case  is  made  out. 

Tiif':  i:n"I). 


INDEX. 


PART   ONE. 

First  ])ay's  \\'ork, 1 

Second  Day's  Work, 5 

Third  Day's  Work, 9 

Fourlh  Day's  ^^'ork, 16 

Fifth  Day's  Work, 23 

Sixtli  J)ay's  Work. - 30 

The  Seventh  Day, 38 

Creation's   \\'eelt, 40 

Recapitulation, 4'2 

Universal  Being,   ---....- 48 

PART  TWO. 

Various  ai'gnments  drawn  from  the  Natural  World  showing  the 

agreement  of  Nature  with  the  Bible, 54-154 

Epilogue, 151 

Application,     -       -       -       -       -       - 151 

PART  THREE. 

Prehistoric  Times  and  Dawn  of  Civilization,  so  called,  discussed,  160 
Epilogue, 232 


DATE  DUE 


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